CVE-2015-8403 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-2015-8401, CVE-2015-8402, 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2024
The CVE-2015-8403 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and related software components that existed across multiple versions and platforms. This vulnerability specifically affects Adobe Flash Player versions before 18.0.0.268 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.228 on Windows and OS X, as well as Adobe AIR versions before 20.0.0.204 and corresponding SDK versions. The flaw manifests in the way memory management is handled within these applications, creating opportunities for attackers to exploit memory access patterns that should not be possible. The vulnerability is classified as a use-after-free condition under CWE-416, which occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed, potentially allowing for memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. This particular vulnerability operates through unspecified attack vectors that distinguish it from several other related vulnerabilities in the same timeframe, making it particularly challenging to detect and defend against.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2015-8403 involves attackers crafting malicious Flash content that triggers the use-after-free condition during normal application execution. When Flash Player processes malicious content, it may free memory associated with certain objects or data structures while other code paths still attempt to reference that freed memory. This creates a scenario where attackers can manipulate the freed memory location to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. The vulnerability's impact extends across multiple operating systems including Windows, OS X, and Linux, though the specific affected versions vary by platform. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through web-based attacks where users visit compromised websites or open malicious Flash files, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently browse the internet and encounter untrusted content. The exploitation process typically requires sophisticated techniques to ensure successful memory manipulation and code execution, often involving heap spraying and other advanced exploitation methods.
From an operational perspective, CVE-2015-8403 poses significant risks to organizations relying on Adobe Flash Player for web content delivery, multimedia applications, or enterprise software that depends on Flash-based components. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed software versions means that many systems were potentially exposed, particularly those running older versions of Adobe's products that had not yet received security updates. Security professionals must consider this vulnerability in the context of broader attack patterns, as it aligns with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the 'Execution' and 'Memory Injection' techniques. The vulnerability demonstrates how legacy software components can remain dangerous even when other security measures are in place, highlighting the importance of maintaining up-to-date software across all systems. Organizations with significant Flash-based infrastructure may have experienced extended exposure periods before patching, as the vulnerability could be exploited through various attack vectors including drive-by downloads, malicious advertisements, and social engineering campaigns that trick users into executing compromised Flash content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8403 primarily focus on immediate patching and software updates to address the underlying memory management flaws. Organizations should prioritize updating Adobe Flash Player to versions 18.0.0.268 or later, and 20.0.0.228 or later for the 20.x series, along with corresponding updates to Adobe AIR and SDK versions. System administrators should implement comprehensive software inventory management to identify all systems running vulnerable versions and prioritize remediation efforts. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious Flash content, configuring browser security settings to restrict Flash execution, and deploying sandboxing technologies to limit the potential impact of successful exploits. Network-based detection mechanisms can help identify attempts to exploit this vulnerability by monitoring for suspicious Flash content patterns and unusual memory access behaviors. Given the nature of use-after-free vulnerabilities, organizations should also consider implementing exploit prevention technologies such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention to make successful exploitation more difficult. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining current security patches and the potential risks associated with running outdated software components in enterprise environments.