CVE-2015-8447 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the Color 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 crafted setTransform arguments, 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-2015-8442, 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-2015-8447 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw within Adobe Flash Player's Color object implementation that affects multiple platform versions across Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. This vulnerability specifically impacts Flash Player versions 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, along with affected Adobe AIR and AIR SDK versions. The flaw manifests when processing crafted setTransform arguments, making it a sophisticated vector for remote code execution attacks that leverages memory corruption techniques to bypass system security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within Flash Player's Color object handling mechanism. When the application processes malicious setTransform arguments, it fails to properly validate or manage object references, leading to a scenario where freed memory locations are accessed after being deallocated. This use-after-free condition creates a predictable memory corruption state that attackers can exploit to inject and execute arbitrary code within the context of the Flash Player process. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of memory safety and object lifecycle management, where the Color object's transformation handling routine does not properly track reference counts or object validity states.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to enterprise environments where Flash Player remains in active use, particularly in legacy applications and web content that has not been migrated to modern web standards. The attack surface extends across multiple platforms and versions, making it challenging for security teams to implement comprehensive mitigation strategies. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-416 indicates it involves a use-after-free condition, which aligns with common exploitation patterns in browser-based attack frameworks. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through web browsing activities without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
The exploitation of CVE-2015-8447 typically follows a pattern consistent with advanced persistent threat campaigns, where attackers craft malicious Flash content that triggers the memory corruption when processed by vulnerable Flash Player versions. The vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for script execution and T1070.004 for indicator removal, as attackers often employ this technique in conjunction with other exploitation methods to maintain persistent access. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability shares characteristics with other Flash-based exploits from the same timeframe, particularly in how it leverages the multimedia framework's object model to create exploitable memory conditions. The impact extends beyond individual user machines to enterprise networks where Flash Player continues to be deployed in critical business applications and legacy systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8447 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Adobe Flash Player installations across all supported platforms, with particular attention to the specific version numbers mentioned in the advisory. Organizations should implement network-based controls to block Flash content delivery where possible, and consider deploying application whitelisting policies that restrict Flash Player execution to trusted environments only. The vulnerability's exploitation requires specific conditions that make it less likely to be exploited in the wild compared to other Flash vulnerabilities, but the widespread deployment of affected versions makes it a critical target for remediation efforts. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to Flash-based attacks and consider implementing sandboxing measures that limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.