CVE-2015-8651 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8651 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR runtime environments that affected multiple platform versions across Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. This vulnerability resides in the core processing mechanisms of the Flash Player runtime, specifically within the memory management and data handling components that process multimedia content and interactive applications. The integer overflow condition occurs when the software attempts to perform arithmetic operations that exceed the maximum value that can be represented by the integer data type, potentially leading to unexpected behavior and memory corruption. The flaw affects Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.324 and 19.x and 20.x prior to 20.0.0.267 on Windows and macOS platforms, while Linux versions were impacted until 11.2.202.559. Additionally, Adobe AIR runtime environments and related SDKs were vulnerable until version 20.0.0.233, creating a broad attack surface across multiple Adobe products and deployment scenarios. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-190 as an integer overflow condition, which falls under the broader category of memory safety issues that can lead to arbitrary code execution. This particular flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1547.001 for registry run keys or startup folder, as attackers could leverage the overflow to gain elevated privileges and establish persistent access.
The technical implementation of this integer overflow vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate memory structures through crafted Flash content or SWF files that are executed within the vulnerable runtime environment. When the Flash Player processes malicious input data, the integer overflow condition causes memory corruption that can be exploited to overwrite critical program variables, function pointers, or return addresses within the execution stack. This memory corruption creates opportunities for attackers to redirect program execution flow and inject malicious code that executes with the privileges of the Flash Player process. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that Flash Player was widely deployed across enterprise environments and consumer systems, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to establish initial access or escalate privileges. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution, as it can enable attackers to bypass security controls such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention mechanisms that are commonly deployed on modern operating systems. The integer overflow specifically manifests during processing of multimedia content where the software calculates buffer sizes, array indices, or memory allocation parameters that exceed the maximum integer capacity, leading to unexpected memory layout changes.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8651 was significant as it provided attackers with a reliable method for achieving remote code execution on systems with vulnerable Adobe Flash Player installations. Organizations running affected versions of Flash Player and AIR were exposed to potential compromise through various attack vectors including malicious websites, email attachments, and social engineering campaigns that delivered crafted SWF files. The vulnerability's exploitation capability made it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Flash Player was commonly enabled by default and used for business-critical applications and web-based training materials. Security researchers noted that the vulnerability could be leveraged for privilege escalation attacks, as the Flash Player process typically runs with elevated privileges on the target system. The widespread deployment of Adobe Flash Player across multiple platforms and operating systems meant that the attack surface was extensive, requiring organizations to implement immediate patching strategies across their entire infrastructure. Organizations that had not yet migrated away from Flash-based content were particularly vulnerable, as the attack surface included not only end-user systems but also web applications and internal business processes that relied on Flash Player for functionality.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-8651 focused primarily on immediate patching and deployment of the vendor-released security updates that addressed the integer overflow conditions within Adobe Flash Player and AIR runtime environments. Organizations were advised to implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all vulnerable systems received the necessary security updates, with particular attention to legacy systems that might not have received timely updates. The Adobe security advisory recommended disabling Flash Player in web browsers where possible, as well as implementing browser security policies that restricted Flash content execution. Network-based mitigation strategies included implementing web application firewalls and content filtering systems that could detect and block known malicious Flash content. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that reduce reliance on single-point security controls. Security teams were advised to monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems that could identify suspicious behavior patterns associated with integer overflow exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations were encouraged to develop incident response procedures specifically addressing Flash-based vulnerabilities and to consider migrating away from Flash-based content to more secure modern web technologies that align with current security standards and best practices.