CVE-2015-8646 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-2015-8642, CVE-2015-8643, 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-2015-8646 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and related software components that existed across multiple platform versions and deployment scenarios. This vulnerability specifically affects Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.324 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.267 on Windows and OS X platforms, as well as Adobe AIR versions before 20.0.0.233 and related SDK components. The flaw manifests in the handling of memory management within the Flash Player runtime environment, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit the underlying software architecture through unspecified attack vectors that distinguish it from related vulnerabilities in the same vulnerability family.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices where freed memory blocks are still referenced or accessed by subsequent operations within the Flash Player execution context. This use-after-free condition occurs when the application continues to reference memory locations that have been deallocated, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate the memory layout and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software systems, making it a prime target for exploitation in memory corruption attacks. The attack vectors remain unspecified in the public description, suggesting that the flaw could be triggered through various means including malformed multimedia content, network-based attacks, or embedded malicious Flash content in web browsers.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8646 extends significantly across enterprise and individual computing environments where Adobe Flash Player remains installed and actively used. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can potentially achieve complete system compromise, elevation of privileges, and persistent access to affected systems. The widespread deployment of Flash Player across different operating systems including Windows, OS X, and Linux platforms creates a substantial attack surface that organizations must address. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where Flash content remains active in web browsers, as well as enterprise systems that continue to support legacy Flash-based applications and content management systems. The attack surface is further expanded due to the nature of Flash Player's integration with web browsers and its widespread use in enterprise environments, making it a high-priority target for threat actors seeking persistent access to organizational networks.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, beginning with the mandatory update of all affected Adobe Flash Player installations to patched versions. The remediation process involves updating not only the primary Flash Player application but also ensuring all related Adobe AIR components and SDK versions are current with the latest security patches. Security teams should consider implementing network-based mitigations such as blocking Flash content delivery through network firewalls and content filtering systems, particularly in environments where Flash content is not strictly required for business operations. Additionally, browser vendors and system administrators should consider disabling Flash Player plugins entirely or implementing strict content security policies to prevent automatic execution of Flash content. The implementation of exploit prevention measures including heap-based memory protection mechanisms, address space layout randomization, and stack canaries can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any remaining instances of unpatched Flash Player installations and ensure that all endpoints within their network infrastructure are properly secured against this and related memory corruption vulnerabilities.