CVE-2015-8421 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-2015-8404, 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-2015-8422, 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 • 11/10/2024
The CVE-2015-8421 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and related software components that has significant implications for system security and exploitability. 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. The issue extends to Adobe AIR and its associated SDK components, with affected versions prior to 20.0.0.204. The vulnerability is classified as a use-after-free condition where memory that has been freed is still accessed by the application, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents and execute arbitrary code. This specific flaw operates through unspecified vectors, distinguishing it from numerous other vulnerabilities in the same timeframe and highlighting the complexity of the underlying memory management issues within Adobe's runtime environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software development. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed, potentially allowing malicious actors to overwrite freed memory with malicious code or manipulate the program's execution flow. The attack surface is particularly broad given that Flash Player was widely deployed across operating systems and web browsers, making it an attractive target for exploit development. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects multiple platform variants including Windows, OS X, and Linux systems, requiring comprehensive patch management across diverse computing environments. Attackers can leverage this condition to perform privilege escalation or achieve remote code execution, potentially compromising entire systems through web-based attack vectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8421 extends beyond simple exploitation to encompass significant risk management challenges for organizations relying on legacy Flash content. Security professionals must consider the implications of this vulnerability within the broader context of the ATT&CK framework, particularly in relation to initial access and execution phases where adversaries might utilize compromised Flash content to establish persistent access. The vulnerability's presence in multiple product lines including Flash Player, AIR, and SDK components creates a complex remediation landscape where organizations must ensure all affected components are updated simultaneously. The timing of this vulnerability's discovery and release coincided with a period of heightened security awareness around Flash-based attacks, making it particularly dangerous in environments where legacy Flash content was still actively used. Organizations faced the challenge of balancing security updates against potential compatibility issues with existing Flash-based applications, especially in enterprise environments where Flash content was deeply integrated into business processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8421 require comprehensive patch management across all affected Adobe products and platforms. The primary remediation approach involves updating to the patched versions of Adobe Flash Player, AIR, and SDK components, which address the underlying memory management issues causing the use-after-free condition. Organizations should implement immediate patch deployment procedures, particularly focusing on systems that continue to utilize Flash content. Network-based defenses such as content filtering and web application firewalls can provide additional protection layers while ensuring proper patching occurs. Security teams must also consider the broader implications of continued Flash usage in their environments, as the vulnerability landscape for Flash-based applications was particularly challenging during this period. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw necessitates immediate attention and comprehensive testing of patched environments to ensure successful remediation without introducing regressions in existing Flash-based applications. Regular vulnerability assessments and continuous monitoring for similar memory corruption issues should be implemented as part of ongoing security hygiene practices.