CVE-2015-8437 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the Selection object implementation 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 a crafted setFocus call, 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-2015-8432, CVE-2015-8433, CVE-2015-8434, CVE-2015-8435, CVE-2015-8436, 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 • 11/09/2024
The CVE-2015-8437 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw within Adobe Flash Player's Selection object implementation, affecting multiple versions across different operating systems and runtime environments. This vulnerability specifically manifests when processing a crafted setFocus call, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through web-based attacks without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The flaw exists in the memory management handling of Flash Player's selection mechanism, where freed memory objects are still referenced, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which describes use-after-free conditions where memory is accessed after it has been freed, creating a classic exploit vector for arbitrary code execution. This particular implementation flaw affects Windows and OS X systems running Flash Player versions before 18.0.0.268 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.228, alongside Linux systems with versions prior to 11.2.202.554. Additionally, the vulnerability impacts Adobe AIR runtime environments and their associated SDKs, with the same version constraints applying to the AIR runtime and development tools. The exploit mechanism leverages the improper handling of memory references within the Flash Player's internal selection object management system, where the setFocus method fails to properly validate object state before accessing memory locations that may have already been deallocated.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations as it enables remote code execution attacks that can bypass traditional security measures and potentially lead to full system compromise. The attack surface is broad given Flash Player's widespread deployment across enterprise networks and user systems, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking persistent access. The exploit requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploitation for execution, where attackers leverage software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code. Organizations running affected versions of Flash Player or AIR are vulnerable to sophisticated attacks that could result in data breaches, system infiltration, and lateral movement within network environments.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate patching of all affected Adobe Flash Player installations, AIR runtime environments, and SDK versions to their respective secure releases. Organizations should also implement network-based protections through web application firewalls and content filtering systems to block malicious Flash content. Security teams should consider disabling Flash Player entirely where possible, as it represents a persistent attack surface that has historically contained numerous vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing monitoring for suspicious setFocus method calls and memory access patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges of maintaining secure legacy software systems and highlights the importance of regular security updates and comprehensive vulnerability management programs. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure readiness for exploitation attempts targeting Flash Player vulnerabilities, as the complexity of these attacks often requires specialized forensic analysis to fully understand the attack vectors and remediation requirements.