CVE-2015-8442 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the MovieClip 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 filters property value, 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-2015-8441, 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-2015-8442 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw within Adobe Flash Player's MovieClip object implementation that affects multiple versions across different operating systems and runtime environments. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of filters properties within MovieClip objects, creating a scenario where memory that has been freed is subsequently accessed, leading to potential arbitrary code execution. The flaw exists in Flash Player versions 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 before 11.2.202.554 on Linux systems, alongside affected Adobe AIR and AIR SDK versions. This vulnerability operates independently from numerous other related issues within the same timeframe, making it a distinct threat vector that requires specific mitigation strategies.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the filters property value within MovieClip objects, which triggers improper memory management during object lifecycle operations. When a MovieClip object is manipulated with crafted filter parameters, the underlying implementation fails to properly manage memory references, leading to a situation where freed memory locations are accessed after the object has been destroyed. This memory corruption pattern enables attackers to inject and execute malicious code within the Flash Player runtime environment, potentially compromising the entire system. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software implementations, where a pointer is used after the memory it points to has been freed.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8442 extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a powerful vector for system compromise through browser-based attacks. Since Flash Player was widely deployed across web browsers, this vulnerability created a significant attack surface that could be exploited through malicious web content without requiring user interaction beyond visiting compromised websites. The attack typically involves crafting malicious SWF files or web content that triggers the vulnerable MovieClip filter handling code, allowing threat actors to gain unauthorized access to systems. This vulnerability particularly affected enterprise environments where Flash Player was extensively used for web applications, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threats and zero-day exploits.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by Adobe. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Flash Player installations, AIR runtime environments, and AIR SDK versions to their patched counterparts. Additionally, implementing network-level controls such as content filtering and disabling Flash Player execution in web browsers can provide temporary protection while updates are deployed. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving exploitation of software vulnerabilities and privilege escalation, as attackers can leverage the arbitrary code execution capability to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within compromised systems. Network segmentation and application whitelisting policies can help reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, though the most effective defense remains timely patch management and software lifecycle governance.