CVE-2015-8647 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-2015-8646, CVE-2015-8648, CVE-2015-8649, and CVE-2015-8650.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2022
The CVE-2015-8647 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and AIR runtime environments that affected multiple platform versions across Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, which occurs when a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow. The affected versions include Flash Player prior to 18.0.0.324 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.267 on Windows and OS X, along with Flash Player prior to 11.2.202.559 on Linux, as well as Adobe AIR versions before 20.0.0.233 and corresponding SDK versions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the fundamental memory management flaw where freed memory blocks are not properly invalidated or reallocated, allowing attackers to craft malicious content that triggers the use-after-free condition during normal Flash Player operation. When the vulnerable Flash Player processes malicious content, it can cause memory to be freed while still being referenced by subsequent operations, creating a scenario where attackers can control what data is loaded into the freed memory space and subsequently execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through web-based attacks without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website or opening a malicious file.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8647 extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a pathway to establish persistent access to compromised systems. According to ATT&CK framework methodology, this vulnerability maps to multiple tactics including execution through web-based attacks, privilege escalation when Flash Player runs with elevated privileges, and persistence mechanisms that can be established through the execution of arbitrary code. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attacks where users might be tricked into visiting malicious websites hosting exploit code. The attack surface is extensive given Flash Player's widespread deployment across enterprise environments and consumer systems, making this vulnerability a prime target for advanced persistent threat campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8647 focus primarily on immediate patching of affected Adobe Flash Player and AIR runtime versions, as well as implementing comprehensive network security controls including web application firewalls and content filtering systems. Organizations should also consider disabling Flash Player entirely in their environments where possible, as recommended by industry best practices and security frameworks such as those published by NIST and CISA. Additional protective measures include implementing sandboxing techniques, monitoring for unusual network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify any remaining instances of vulnerable software. The vulnerability's classification as a use-after-free issue also highlights the importance of memory safety practices in software development, particularly for runtime environments that process untrusted content from web sources.