CVE-2015-8642 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.324 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.267 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.559 on Linux, Adobe AIR before 20.0.0.233, Adobe AIR SDK before 20.0.0.233, and Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler before 20.0.0.233 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-8634, CVE-2015-8635, CVE-2015-8638, CVE-2015-8639, CVE-2015-8640, CVE-2015-8641, CVE-2015-8643, CVE-2015-8646, CVE-2015-8647, CVE-2015-8648, CVE-2015-8649, and CVE-2015-8650.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2022
The CVE-2015-8642 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and related software components that affects multiple platform versions and deployment scenarios. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory corruption issues that have historically been prime targets for exploitation in web browsers and multimedia frameworks. The flaw manifests in Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.324 for Windows and OS X platforms, and before 11.2.202.559 for Linux systems, along with corresponding vulnerable versions of Adobe AIR and its associated development tools. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software development practices where memory is accessed after it has been freed, creating potential exploitation opportunities for malicious actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Adobe Flash Player runtime environment, where objects are deallocated from memory but references to these objects persist in memory structures. Attackers can leverage this condition by crafting malicious Flash content that triggers the specific memory access patterns leading to the use-after-free scenario. The exploitation mechanism typically involves manipulating the Flash Player's garbage collection processes and object lifecycle management to achieve arbitrary code execution on vulnerable systems. This particular vulnerability differs from several other related CVEs in the same year, indicating a distinct code path or memory handling pattern within the Flash Player's rendering engine or ActionScript virtual machine.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8642 extends beyond simple privilege escalation or denial-of-service conditions, as it enables full arbitrary code execution capabilities that can be leveraged for advanced persistent threats. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed software across multiple operating systems creates a substantial attack surface that security professionals must address immediately. Attackers can utilize this vulnerability to install backdoors, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to compromised systems without requiring user interaction or elevated privileges. The widespread adoption of Adobe Flash Player in enterprise environments and web applications makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous, as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious websites, email attachments, or compromised web services.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of all vulnerable Adobe Flash Player installations, Adobe AIR runtime components, and associated development environments. The recommended mitigation strategy includes implementing strict software update policies and maintaining comprehensive inventory tracking of all Adobe Flash Player deployments across network infrastructure. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious Flash content. From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining updated security tooling and ensuring that endpoint protection solutions can detect and respond to exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's characteristics align with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the 'Exploitation' and 'Execution' phases, particularly targeting the 'Exploit Public-Facing Application' and 'Command and Scripting Interpreter' tactics that attackers commonly employ to establish initial access and maintain persistence within target environments.