CVE-2015-8648 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-2015-8647, CVE-2015-8649, and CVE-2015-8650.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2022
The CVE-2015-8648 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and related software components that persisted across multiple version lines and operating systems. 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, while also impacting Adobe AIR versions before 20.0.0.233 and corresponding SDK versions on Linux systems. The flaw manifests as a memory management error that occurs when the application attempts to access memory that has already been freed, creating a predictable exploitation vector for malicious actors. This particular vulnerability operates independently from several other related issues including CVE-2015-8634 through CVE-2015-8650, establishing it as a distinct threat within the broader context of Flash Player security vulnerabilities.
The technical implementation of this use-after-free vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within the Flash Player runtime environment where objects are deallocated from memory but references to those objects remain accessible to the application. When the application attempts to interact with these freed memory locations, it can trigger unpredictable behavior that attackers can leverage to execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability typically occurs during the processing of multimedia content or when handling specific data structures within Flash applications, creating a window of opportunity for exploitation. The flaw's persistence across multiple operating systems and software variants demonstrates the widespread impact of this memory management issue within Adobe's runtime environment, making it particularly dangerous for organizations relying on Flash-based applications.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to enterprise environments where Flash Player remains installed and actively used, particularly in scenarios involving web browsing or multimedia content consumption. The ability to execute arbitrary code through this vulnerability means attackers can potentially gain full system control, install malware, modify system configurations, or escalate privileges within the affected environment. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires social engineering to deliver malicious Flash content to victims, often through compromised websites or phishing campaigns that trick users into executing the malicious payload. Organizations with legacy systems still running vulnerable versions of Flash Player face heightened risk, as these systems often lack modern security mitigations and may not receive timely updates.
Security mitigations for CVE-2015-8648 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by Adobe. System administrators should prioritize updating all affected versions of Adobe Flash Player, Adobe AIR, and related SDK components to their patched versions, ensuring that all platforms receive appropriate updates. Additional protective measures include implementing browser security restrictions, disabling Flash Player in web browsers, and deploying network-based security controls such as web application firewalls to block suspicious Flash content. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, and represents a classic example of memory safety issues that fall under the broader ATT&CK technique of exploitation for privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions to monitor for signs of exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive patch management processes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from persisting in their environments.