CVE-2015-8432 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-2015-8421, 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-2015-8433, 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 • 11/10/2024
The CVE-2015-8432 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and related software components that existed across multiple platform versions and product lines. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, where a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed, creating potential exploitation opportunities for malicious actors. The affected software versions include 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, along with Linux versions before 11.2.202.554, as well as various Adobe AIR and AIR SDK versions. This vulnerability operates through unspecified attack vectors that distinguish it from numerous other related vulnerabilities in the same timeframe, making it particularly challenging to defend against through conventional means.
The technical exploitation of this use-after-free vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, potentially leading to complete system compromise. When a program attempts to access memory that has already been deallocated, attackers can manipulate the memory layout to inject and execute malicious code. The vulnerability's exploitation typically involves crafting specially designed Flash content that triggers the memory management error during normal program execution. This allows adversaries to gain unauthorized access to system resources, potentially leading to privilege escalation or complete system control. The attack surface is particularly broad given the widespread deployment of Adobe Flash Player across web browsers and applications, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to exploit the vulnerability at scale.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8432 extends far beyond simple code execution, as it represents a fundamental memory safety issue that can be leveraged for sophisticated attacks within the context of the broader MITRE ATT&CK framework. The vulnerability aligns with multiple attack techniques including privilege escalation, persistence, and defense evasion mechanisms. Organizations deploying affected versions of Adobe Flash Player face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where users frequently interact with web content from untrusted sources. The vulnerability's presence in both desktop and mobile platforms creates additional attack vectors and complicates remediation efforts. Security professionals must consider the broader implications of this vulnerability within their network security posture, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or deploy additional malware payloads.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8432 focus primarily on immediate patching and software updates to address the underlying memory management flaw. Organizations should prioritize updating Adobe Flash Player to versions 18.0.0.268 or later, 19.x and 20.x to 20.0.0.228 or later, and ensuring all Adobe AIR and AIR SDK components are updated to versions 20.0.0.204 or later. Additional protective measures include implementing browser security restrictions, disabling Flash Player where possible, and deploying network monitoring solutions to detect suspicious Flash content execution. The vulnerability's classification as a use-after-free issue also emphasizes the importance of regular security assessments and memory safety reviews in software development processes. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and sandboxing mechanisms to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, particularly in high-value environments where the vulnerability could be leveraged for advanced persistent threat operations.