CVE-2015-8649 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-2015-8648, and CVE-2015-8650.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2022
The CVE-2015-8649 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and related software components that poses significant security risks to users across multiple operating systems. This vulnerability specifically affects Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.324 for Windows and OS X, and before 11.2.202.559 for Linux, alongside Adobe AIR versions before 20.0.0.233 and corresponding SDK versions. The flaw stems from improper memory management where freed memory blocks are still referenced by the application, creating opportunities for malicious code execution. This particular vulnerability operates through unspecified attack vectors that distinguish it from several other related vulnerabilities within the same timeframe, including CVE-2015-8634 through CVE-2015-8650, indicating a unique exploitation pathway that requires specific conditions to be successfully leveraged by threat actors.
The technical implementation of this use-after-free vulnerability occurs when the Flash Player processes multimedia content and encounters malformed or specially crafted input that triggers memory deallocation followed by subsequent access to the same memory region. This memory management error creates a scenario where attackers can manipulate the application's behavior by controlling the contents of freed memory blocks, potentially allowing them to inject 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 development where memory is accessed after it has been freed, making it a prime target for exploitation in memory corruption attacks. The attack surface extends across multiple platforms including Windows, OS X, and Linux, requiring comprehensive patch management across all affected systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8649 is severe and far-reaching, as it enables remote code execution attacks that can compromise user systems without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage or opening a specially crafted file. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to compromised systems, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system takeover, or deployment of additional malware payloads. The vulnerability's presence in Adobe AIR and SDK components extends the attack surface beyond traditional web browsing scenarios, as developers using these tools could inadvertently expose their applications to exploitation. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Flash content is widely used for web applications, training materials, and internal tools. The lack of specific vector details in the vulnerability description suggests that attackers may be able to exploit this through various methods including web-based attacks, email attachments, or file-sharing scenarios, making it difficult to implement comprehensive defense-in-depth strategies.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8649 require immediate patch deployment across all affected Adobe Flash Player installations and related AIR components. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest versions of Adobe Flash Player, Adobe AIR, and corresponding SDK releases that contain the necessary security fixes. The vulnerability's nature makes it particularly suitable for exploitation in targeted attacks, so network administrators should implement additional monitoring for suspicious Flash-related activities and consider implementing web application firewalls to block known malicious Flash content. Security teams should also consider disabling Flash Player in web browsers where possible, as this represents a fundamental reduction in attack surface. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving code injection and privilege escalation, with potential for lateral movement if exploited successfully, making comprehensive endpoint protection and user behavior monitoring essential components of the defense strategy. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing robust patch management processes to prevent exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities in widely used applications.