CVE-2015-8440 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
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 allow attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-8409 and CVE-2015-8453.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2022
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.268 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.228 on Windows and OS X platforms, along with Adobe AIR versions before 20.0.0.204 and related SDK versions, contained a critical access control vulnerability that permitted unauthorized privilege escalation through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability specifically enabled attackers to bypass intended access restrictions, creating a pathway for unauthorized system access and potential exploitation of restricted resources. The flaw represented a distinct security issue separate from CVE-2015-8409 and CVE-2015-8453, indicating multiple vulnerabilities within the same software family that required different exploitation techniques. The vulnerability was particularly concerning because it affected widely deployed software components that were integral to web-based applications and desktop environments across multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms.
The technical nature of this access control bypass vulnerability stemmed from insufficient validation mechanisms within the Flash Player and AIR runtime environments. Attackers could leverage this weakness to circumvent security boundaries that were designed to prevent unauthorized access to system resources, potentially allowing execution of malicious code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability's impact was amplified by the widespread adoption of Adobe Flash Player across enterprise and consumer environments, making it an attractive target for threat actors seeking to establish persistent access to compromised systems. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues where systems fail to properly enforce access restrictions. The flaw demonstrated a classic privilege escalation vector that could be exploited through various attack surfaces including web-based delivery mechanisms and desktop application execution contexts.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8440 extended beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential full system compromise and persistent threat presence. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Flash Player and AIR were vulnerable to attacks that could result in data exfiltration, system monitoring, and lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability's exploitation could occur through various vectors including malicious web pages, infected email attachments, or compromised websites that leveraged Flash Player's runtime environment. Security researchers noted that this vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it could be combined with other exploits to create more sophisticated attack chains, potentially enabling advanced persistent threats to establish footholds within target environments. The issue represented a significant risk to enterprise security posture given Flash Player's integration with numerous web applications and enterprise software platforms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8440 required immediate patching of all affected Adobe Flash Player and AIR installations across enterprise environments. Organizations needed to implement comprehensive software inventory management to identify all systems running vulnerable versions and deploy patches promptly. The recommended approach included updating to Adobe Flash Player versions 18.0.0.268 and 19.x and 20.x 20.0.0.228 or later, along with Adobe AIR versions 20.0.0.204 and later. Security teams should have implemented network-based controls including web filtering and content validation to prevent execution of potentially malicious Flash content. Additional mitigations included disabling Flash Player in web browsers where possible, implementing application whitelisting policies, and monitoring for suspicious network activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK matrix technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation highlighted the need for layered security approaches that could detect and prevent exploitation attempts at multiple points within the attack chain.