CVE-2016-0977 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-2016-0969, CVE-2016-0970, CVE-2016-0972, CVE-2016-0976, 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 versions prior to specified patched releases contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability affects multiple platforms including Windows, OS X, and Linux operating systems, with distinct affected versions for each platform. The flaw manifests through unspecified attack vectors that differ from several other CVEs in the same advisory, indicating a unique exploitation pathway within the Flash Player runtime environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability resides in improper memory handling within the Flash Player execution engine, where attackers can manipulate memory structures to achieve arbitrary code execution. This memory corruption issue typically arises from insufficient bounds checking or improper memory allocation during Flash content processing. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to craft malicious Flash content that, when executed by an affected application, can overwrite memory locations and potentially execute malicious payloads. The attack requires no user interaction beyond viewing the malicious content, making it particularly dangerous in web browser environments where Flash content is commonly encountered.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on Flash Player for content delivery or application functionality. The memory corruption allows for complete system compromise when exploited successfully, as attackers can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. The vulnerability affects not only end-user systems but also enterprise environments where Flash Player is integrated into business applications. Additionally, the vulnerability impacts Adobe AIR applications which share the same underlying Flash Player runtime, extending the attack surface to desktop applications that utilize AIR for deployment.
The exploitation of this vulnerability follows patterns consistent with memory corruption attacks documented in the CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) catalog, specifically relating to CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write. These weaknesses are commonly exploited through techniques such as buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or heap corruption scenarios that can be leveraged to gain code execution control. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059.007: Command and Scripting Interpreter: Visual Basic, as attackers often utilize Flash content to deliver malicious payloads that execute in the context of the browser or application environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of all affected Flash Player and AIR installations across all supported platforms. Organizations should prioritize updating to the patched versions specified in the advisory, with particular attention to the Linux version which requires updating to 11.2.202.569 or later. System administrators should implement network segmentation and web content filtering to prevent access to potentially malicious Flash content. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling Flash Player entirely in browser environments where it is not strictly required, as this eliminates the attack surface entirely. Regular vulnerability scanning and monitoring for similar memory corruption issues should be implemented to identify other potential vulnerabilities in the Flash runtime environment.