CVE-2015-8441 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-2015-8432, CVE-2015-8433, CVE-2015-8434, CVE-2015-8435, CVE-2015-8436, CVE-2015-8437, 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-2015-8441 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and related components that fundamentally undermines memory safety mechanisms within the software ecosystem. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 18.0.0.268 for Flash Player on Windows and OS X, and before 11.2.202.554 on Linux, along with various Adobe AIR implementations and SDK versions. The flaw manifests when the application attempts to access memory that has already been freed, creating a dangerous condition where attackers can manipulate the program's execution flow through carefully crafted input vectors. Such vulnerabilities fall under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, making them particularly dangerous as they provide attackers with opportunities to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the compromised application.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves leveraging the improper memory management practices within Adobe's Flash Player runtime environment. When legitimate operations occur that trigger memory deallocation, subsequent access attempts to freed memory regions can be manipulated by attackers to redirect execution flow. This typically occurs through carefully constructed multimedia content or web pages that when processed by the vulnerable Flash Player component, cause the application to execute attacker-controlled code. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of memory corruption and code execution, where the freed memory can be reallocated for malicious purposes, allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code within the context of the Flash Player process. The attack surface is broad due to Flash Player's widespread deployment across multiple operating systems and platforms, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to leverage a single exploit across numerous systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8441 extends far beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with persistent access to compromised systems through established attack frameworks like the ATT&CK matrix's execution and privilege escalation phases. Once successfully exploited, attackers can establish backdoors, perform reconnaissance, and escalate privileges to gain deeper system access. The vulnerability's presence in both desktop and mobile platforms means that organizations must consider comprehensive mitigation strategies across their entire infrastructure. The affected software components are widely deployed in enterprise environments, educational institutions, and consumer applications, making the potential impact of exploitation significant. Organizations relying on Flash Player for critical operations face increased risk of data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive information, as the vulnerability can be exploited through web browsers, email attachments, or malicious websites without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a compromised site.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8441 should prioritize immediate patch deployment across all affected Adobe Flash Player installations, Adobe AIR implementations, and related SDK versions. Organizations must implement comprehensive monitoring and detection capabilities to identify potential exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint monitoring. The vulnerability's nature makes it particularly susceptible to exploitation through social engineering campaigns, where users are directed to malicious websites or receive compromised email attachments. Security teams should consider implementing browser security measures such as disabling Flash Player entirely, using sandboxing technologies, and deploying web application firewalls to prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining unpatched systems within the organization's infrastructure, as the complexity of Adobe's deployment across multiple platforms and versions makes comprehensive coverage challenging. The remediation process should include not only patching but also user education and policy enforcement to minimize exposure windows during the patch deployment process.