CVE-2016-0978 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-2016-0977, 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 patches contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability affects multiple product versions across different operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms. The flaw manifests through unspecified attack vectors that differ from a series of previously identified vulnerabilities in the same advisory cycle, indicating a distinct code path or memory handling issue within the affected software components. The vulnerability resides in the core processing mechanisms of Flash Player and AIR runtime environments, where improper memory management or buffer handling allows attackers to manipulate program execution flow through crafted malicious content.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from memory corruption issues that occur during the processing of multimedia content or application code within the Flash Player runtime. Attackers can leverage this flaw by delivering malicious SWF files or other content that triggers the vulnerable code paths, leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected user. The memory corruption aspect suggests that the vulnerability may involve buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management errors that allow attackers to overwrite critical memory locations or redirect program execution. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-125 for out-of-bounds read conditions or CWE-787 for out-of-bounds write conditions, depending on the specific implementation details of the memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on targeted systems without user interaction in many scenarios. The affected systems include not only end-user devices running Flash Player but also development environments using Adobe AIR SDK and compiler tools. This broad impact means that both production environments and development workstations could be compromised, potentially leading to data breaches, system takeovers, or further lateral movement within networks. The vulnerability affects multiple versions simultaneously, indicating a fundamental flaw in the codebase that spans across major release lines, making the remediation process more complex and widespread.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Adobe Flash Player and AIR installations across all supported platforms. The vulnerability affects not just the end-user applications but also the development tools, meaning that developers working with AIR SDKs could inadvertently create compromised applications. Organizations should implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability can be triggered through web browsers, email attachments, or other content delivery mechanisms. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and potentially T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation. System administrators should also consider disabling Flash Player in browsers where possible and implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted Flash content. The patching process requires careful testing to ensure that legitimate applications continue to function properly, as Flash Player was deeply integrated into many enterprise applications and web services.