CVE-2016-0969 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.329 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.306 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.569 on Linux, Adobe AIR before 20.0.0.260, Adobe AIR SDK before 20.0.0.260, and Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler before 20.0.0.260 allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-0964, CVE-2016-0965, CVE-2016-0966, CVE-2016-0967, CVE-2016-0968, CVE-2016-0970, CVE-2016-0972, CVE-2016-0976, CVE-2016-0977, CVE-2016-0978, CVE-2016-0979, CVE-2016-0980, and CVE-2016-0981.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2022
Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR suffered from a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability affected multiple product versions across different operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. The flaw existed in the way these applications handled certain data structures during processing, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents through carefully crafted input vectors. The vulnerability was distinct from several other related issues affecting the same software ecosystem, indicating a unique code path that required separate remediation efforts. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability meant that attackers could potentially overwrite critical memory locations, leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. This type of vulnerability typically arises from insufficient input validation or improper memory management practices within the software's runtime environment. The affected versions included specific release numbers that were particularly susceptible, with the patch levels providing the necessary fixes for both desktop and mobile implementations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumerations found in the CWE database, specifically relating to memory safety issues and improper input handling within multimedia frameworks. Attackers could exploit this weakness by delivering malicious content through web browsers or other applications that utilized the vulnerable Flash Player or AIR runtime. The attack surface expanded significantly due to the widespread adoption of Flash Player across various web applications and content management systems. Security researchers identified that this vulnerability could be triggered through multiple attack vectors including malformed multimedia content, embedded scripts, or specially crafted web pages that would cause the affected software to process unsafe data structures. The memory corruption occurred at runtime when the software attempted to manage memory allocation for complex multimedia operations, creating opportunities for heap-based buffer overflows or other memory manipulation techniques. This vulnerability demonstrated the inherent risks associated with legacy multimedia frameworks that continue to support older protocols and file formats.
Organizations and users faced significant operational impacts from this vulnerability, as it required immediate patching across all affected systems to prevent potential exploitation. The widespread deployment of Flash Player across enterprise networks and public websites meant that the attack surface was extensive and difficult to fully control. Security teams needed to implement comprehensive monitoring and patch management procedures to address this vulnerability before it could be exploited in the wild. The vulnerability's potential for remote code execution made it particularly dangerous, as it could allow attackers to gain full control over affected systems without user interaction. Network administrators had to balance the need for immediate patching with the risk of disrupting existing applications that relied on Flash Player functionality. The remediation process required careful testing and deployment strategies to ensure that critical business applications continued to function properly while addressing the security concerns. Organizations with legacy systems or restricted network environments faced additional challenges in implementing timely updates and maintaining comprehensive coverage across all affected platforms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability centered on immediate patch deployment and application of security updates provided by Adobe. System administrators needed to prioritize the installation of updated versions of Flash Player and Adobe AIR runtime environments across all affected operating systems. The recommended approach included implementing automated patch management systems to ensure consistent deployment across enterprise environments. Organizations should have considered disabling Flash Player in web browsers where possible, particularly for users who did not require Flash-based content. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions were essential to detect potential exploitation attempts and limit the impact of successful attacks. Security teams needed to establish incident response procedures specifically addressing this vulnerability, including log analysis for suspicious memory access patterns and network traffic anomalies. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the risks associated with running outdated multimedia frameworks. Additional protective measures included implementing browser security policies, using sandboxing technologies, and maintaining comprehensive inventory systems to track all installations of vulnerable software. The incident underscored the necessity of regular security assessments and the importance of transitioning away from legacy technologies that pose ongoing security risks to modern computing environments.