CVE-2016-0983 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE • 01/26/2023
Use-after-free vulnerability in 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 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-0973, CVE-2016-0974, CVE-2016-0975, CVE-2016-0982, and CVE-2016-0984.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0983 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within Adobe Flash Player and related Adobe AIR runtime environments. This particular weakness affects multiple versions of Adobe Flash Player including those before 18.0.0.329 and 19.x and 20.x before 20.0.0.306 on Windows and OS X platforms, alongside Linux versions before 11.2.202.569. The vulnerability also extends to Adobe AIR versions prior to 20.0.0.260 and their corresponding SDKs, creating a widespread attack surface across multiple Adobe products. The flaw falls under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions where memory is accessed after it has been freed, creating potential for exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory management errors within the Flash Player runtime environment that can be manipulated by attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. When Flash Player processes certain multimedia content or handles specific API calls, it fails to properly validate memory references, leading to scenarios where freed memory locations are accessed again. This creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code into the memory space of the running Flash Player process, effectively bypassing standard security mechanisms. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of memory corruption and privilege escalation, allowing attackers to gain elevated privileges on compromised systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0983 extends beyond simple code execution, as it enables attackers to establish persistent footholds within target environments. This vulnerability was particularly dangerous because Flash Player was widely installed across enterprise networks and consumer devices, making it an attractive target for sophisticated attack campaigns. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious SWF files or web content that triggers the use-after-free condition, which then allows the attacker to control the execution flow of the Flash Player process. According to ATT&CK framework mappings, this vulnerability corresponds to techniques involving code injection and privilege escalation, specifically targeting the execution and persistence phases of the attack lifecycle. The vulnerability's impact is further amplified by the fact that many users and organizations were unaware of the extensive Flash Player installations on their systems, creating numerous potential attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0983 require immediate patching of all affected Adobe Flash Player and AIR components, with particular emphasis on the specified version ranges mentioned in the vulnerability description. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all instances of affected software are updated promptly. The recommended approach includes deploying Adobe's official security updates for Flash Player and AIR, as well as considering the complete removal of Flash Player from systems where it is not essential for business operations. Network administrators should also implement content filtering measures to prevent execution of potentially malicious Flash content, particularly in enterprise environments where the attack surface remains significant. Additionally, security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems that can identify anomalous behavior associated with memory corruption attacks. The vulnerability serves as a prime example of why maintaining up-to-date software security patches remains critical for enterprise security posture, as it demonstrates how legacy software components can create persistent security risks that require immediate remediation.