CVE-2015-8457 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-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 unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-8407.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2024
The CVE-2015-8457 vulnerability represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw in Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR runtime environments that affected multiple platform versions across Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of Stack-based Buffer Overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the program stack. The affected versions include Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.268 and 19.x and 20.x versions before 20.0.0.228 on Windows and OS X, and Adobe AIR versions before 20.0.0.204, along with their corresponding SDK and Compiler components. The vulnerability operates through unspecified attack vectors that differ from CVE-2015-8407, indicating a distinct exploitation pathway within the Flash Player runtime environment.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow vulnerability enables remote code execution attacks by allowing malicious actors to manipulate memory layout through crafted Flash content. When Flash Player processes malicious SWF files, the buffer overflow occurs during memory allocation and data handling operations within the player's execution context. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to inject and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The stack-based nature of the vulnerability means that the overflow corrupts the return addresses and other critical stack data, enabling attackers to redirect program execution flow to malicious code locations. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in the context of web browsers where Flash content is frequently executed without user awareness.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8457 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise and persistent threat capabilities. Organizations relying on Flash Player for web content delivery faced significant risk exposure, as the vulnerability could be exploited through web browsers without requiring user interaction beyond visiting malicious websites. The attack surface was particularly broad given Flash Player's widespread deployment across enterprise environments and user systems. Security researchers have documented that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting the Windows Command Shell and potentially other system interpreters. The vulnerability's exploitation could enable attackers to establish persistence mechanisms, escalate privileges, and conduct further reconnaissance or lateral movement within compromised networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8457 primarily focus on immediate patch deployment and runtime environment hardening. Adobe released security updates for all affected versions, with the recommended solution being immediate installation of patches for Flash Player 18.0.0.268 and 19.x and 20.x versions 20.0.0.228 and later, along with Adobe AIR versions 20.0.0.204 and later. Organizations should implement strict content filtering policies to prevent execution of untrusted Flash content, particularly in enterprise environments where browser security policies can be enforced through group policy configurations. Network-based mitigations include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious Flash content, while endpoint security solutions should be configured to monitor for suspicious memory access patterns and process behavior. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for Flash Player execution, though this approach has limitations given the vulnerability's nature. The remediation process requires comprehensive testing of patched environments to ensure compatibility with existing Flash-based applications while maintaining security posture against this specific buffer overflow vulnerability.