CVE-2015-8401 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.268 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.228 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.554 on Linux, Adobe AIR before 20.0.0.204, Adobe AIR SDK before 20.0.0.204, and Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler before 20.0.0.204 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-8048, CVE-2015-8049, CVE-2015-8050, CVE-2015-8055, CVE-2015-8056, CVE-2015-8057, CVE-2015-8058, CVE-2015-8059, CVE-2015-8061, CVE-2015-8062, CVE-2015-8063, CVE-2015-8064, CVE-2015-8065, CVE-2015-8066, CVE-2015-8067, CVE-2015-8068, CVE-2015-8069, CVE-2015-8070, CVE-2015-8071, CVE-2015-8402, CVE-2015-8403, CVE-2015-8404, CVE-2015-8405, CVE-2015-8406, CVE-2015-8410, CVE-2015-8411, CVE-2015-8412, CVE-2015-8413, CVE-2015-8414, CVE-2015-8420, CVE-2015-8421, CVE-2015-8422, CVE-2015-8423, CVE-2015-8424, CVE-2015-8425, CVE-2015-8426, CVE-2015-8427, CVE-2015-8428, CVE-2015-8429, CVE-2015-8430, CVE-2015-8431, CVE-2015-8432, CVE-2015-8433, CVE-2015-8434, CVE-2015-8435, CVE-2015-8436, CVE-2015-8437, CVE-2015-8441, CVE-2015-8442, CVE-2015-8447, CVE-2015-8448, CVE-2015-8449, CVE-2015-8450, CVE-2015-8452, and CVE-2015-8454.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2024
The CVE-2015-8401 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and related Adobe AIR software ecosystems, exploiting memory management weaknesses that can lead to arbitrary code execution. This vulnerability specifically affects Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.268 and 19.x and 20.x prior to 20.0.0.228 on Windows and OS X platforms, alongside older Linux versions before 11.2.202.554, as well as Adobe AIR and AIR SDK versions before 20.0.0.204. The flaw stems from improper handling of memory objects where freed memory locations are still accessed by subsequent operations, creating exploitable conditions for malicious actors. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration CWE-416 classification, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions that occur when program code attempts to access memory after it has been freed, potentially leading to memory corruption and code execution. The vulnerability's exploitation mechanism involves crafting malicious Flash content that triggers the memory management error during normal application operation, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. This particular vulnerability differs from numerous other related CVEs in the same year, indicating a distinct exploitation vector and memory handling issue within the Flash Player runtime environment.
The technical implementation of CVE-2015-8401 involves a specific memory management flaw that occurs when Flash Player processes certain multimedia content or interactive elements. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by delivering malicious SWF files through web browsers or other Flash Player execution environments, where the flawed memory handling causes the application to access freed memory locations. The exploitation process typically begins with a user visiting a compromised website or opening a malicious file that contains specially crafted Flash content. The Flash Player runtime executes this content, triggering the use-after-free condition when it attempts to access previously freed memory structures. This memory corruption can then be leveraged to overwrite critical program data or function pointers, enabling attackers to redirect execution flow and ultimately execute malicious code. The vulnerability's impact extends across multiple operating systems and Adobe products, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can target various platforms through a single exploit vector. The attack surface is significantly broadened by the widespread use of Flash Player in web browsers, creating numerous potential entry points for exploitation.
From an operational perspective, CVE-2015-8401 poses severe security implications for organizations relying on Adobe Flash Player, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise. The vulnerability allows attackers to gain arbitrary code execution privileges, potentially leading to full system control, data exfiltration, or establishment of persistent backdoors. The attack chain typically involves initial compromise through web-based delivery, followed by privilege escalation and lateral movement within the target network. Security teams must consider that this vulnerability affects not only end-user systems but also enterprise environments where Flash Player remains widely deployed for legacy applications. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction, often just visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios. Organizations that have not updated their Adobe Flash Player installations remain highly vulnerable to this and related exploitation techniques, as the memory management flaw persists across multiple product versions and platforms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8401 require immediate action to remediate affected systems through official Adobe security patches, which address the underlying memory management issues in Flash Player and AIR software. Organizations should prioritize patch deployment across all affected platforms, including Windows, OS X, and Linux systems, while also updating Adobe AIR and AIR SDK components to versions that contain the necessary security fixes. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique, which involves the execution of malicious code through application-specific vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for comprehensive patch management and application whitelisting policies. Network administrators should implement additional security controls such as web application firewalls, content filtering systems, and browser security enhancements to reduce the risk of exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for Flash content execution and monitoring for suspicious Flash-related network activity or system behavior. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining unpatched systems and ensure complete remediation across the enterprise environment. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the dangers of continuing to use deprecated software components that may contain known security flaws.