CVE-2015-8404 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-2015-8403, 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-2015-8404 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and related software components that significantly impacts system security. This vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe Flash Player including those before 18.0.0.268 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.228 on Windows and OS X platforms, as well as older versions on Linux systems. Additionally, the vulnerability extends to Adobe AIR before 20.0.0.204 and its associated SDK and compiler components. The flaw operates as a memory corruption vulnerability where an attacker can manipulate freed memory locations, creating opportunities for arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software development practices. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the vulnerable application, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within Adobe Flash Player's runtime environment. When Flash Player processes certain multimedia content or handles specific API calls, it may free memory resources while other code paths still reference those locations. This creates a window where an attacker can manipulate the freed memory to inject and execute malicious code. The vulnerability's exploitation requires sophisticated techniques as attackers must carefully control the memory layout and timing to achieve reliable code execution. The affected platforms span across multiple operating systems including Windows, OS X, and Linux, demonstrating the widespread nature of this flaw. The vulnerability differs from numerous other related CVEs in the same year, indicating it operates through distinct code paths and memory management patterns that make it particularly challenging to detect and prevent through standard security measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8404 extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with a pathway to gain complete control over affected systems. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Flash Player is commonly used for web applications, training materials, and internal business processes. The attack surface is broad since Flash Player was widely deployed across various industries and organizations, making the exploitation potential extremely high. Security researchers have categorized this vulnerability within the ATT&CK framework under the T1059 technique for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation would likely involve executing malicious payloads through the compromised Flash runtime. Organizations using outdated versions of Flash Player and related components face significant risk of data breaches, malware deployment, and persistent backdoor access. The vulnerability's potential for remote code execution without user interaction makes it particularly attractive to threat actors conducting large-scale attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8404 require immediate patching of all affected Adobe Flash Player and AIR components across all supported platforms. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest versions of Adobe Flash Player, Adobe AIR, and their associated SDKs to eliminate the use-after-free condition. System administrators should implement network segmentation and application whitelisting to limit Flash Player execution where possible, particularly in high-security environments. The vulnerability's classification as a critical threat warrants immediate attention in security operations centers, with monitoring systems configured to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify anomalous memory access patterns consistent with use-after-free exploitation. Organizations that cannot immediately patch should consider disabling Flash Player entirely or implementing strict browser security policies that restrict Flash content execution. The remediation process should include comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected versions, as well as regular security audits to ensure proper patch management processes are in place. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing robust security practices to prevent exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities.