CVE-2015-8446 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow 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 an MP3 file with COMM tags that are mishandled during memory allocation, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-8438.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-8446 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow affecting Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR across multiple operating systems. This flaw resides in the handling of MP3 file metadata, specifically COMM tags that are processed during memory allocation operations. The vulnerability affects 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, and before 11.2.202.554 on Linux, alongside affected Adobe AIR versions and SDKs. The issue stems from improper bounds checking when processing audio metadata, creating conditions where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations in the heap.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of MP3 file structures to trigger memory allocation errors during the parsing of COMM tags. When Flash Player encounters these specially crafted metadata fields, it fails to properly validate the size or content of the tag data before allocating memory for processing. This inadequate validation allows attackers to overflow heap buffers, potentially overwriting critical memory structures including function pointers, return addresses, or other control data. The heap overflow creates opportunities for arbitrary code execution, as attackers can manipulate the overwritten memory locations to redirect program execution flow.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on Flash-based content, particularly in environments where users frequently encounter multimedia content from untrusted sources. The attack vector requires a user to interact with a malicious MP3 file, typically through web browsers or Flash Player applications, making it suitable for phishing campaigns or drive-by download attacks. The impact extends beyond individual user systems to enterprise networks where Flash Player remains widely deployed, especially in legacy applications and web portals. Security researchers have classified this vulnerability as a high-severity threat due to its potential for remote code execution and the widespread use of affected Flash Player versions.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow classification and demonstrates characteristics consistent with attack patterns found in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of code injection. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, as the vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild. Recommended mitigations include disabling Flash Player in browsers where possible, implementing network-based controls to block malicious MP3 content, and conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected versions. Security teams should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures to address potential compromises. The remediation process requires careful coordination between IT teams and security operations to ensure complete patch deployment while maintaining business continuity in environments where Flash content remains essential for legacy applications.