CVE-2016-0992 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.333 and 19.x through 21.x before 21.0.0.182 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.577 on Linux, Adobe AIR before 21.0.0.176, Adobe AIR SDK before 21.0.0.176, and Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler before 21.0.0.176 allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-0960, CVE-2016-0961, CVE-2016-0962, CVE-2016-0986, CVE-2016-0989, CVE-2016-1002, and CVE-2016-1005.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2022
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.333 and 19.x through 21.x before 21.0.0.182 on Windows and OS X platforms, along with affected versions on Linux before 11.2.202.577, together with Adobe AIR versions before 21.0.0.176 including the corresponding SDK and Compiler versions, contain a memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability represents a distinct security flaw from several other reported issues within the same timeframe including CVE-2016-0960 through CVE-2016-1005, demonstrating the complexity of Flash Player's security landscape during this period. The memory corruption flaw typically arises from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation operations within the player's runtime environment, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate heap memory structures or overwrite critical program data. Such vulnerabilities fall under the common weakness enumeration CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. These memory corruption issues can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious web content, specially crafted SWF files, or compromised web applications that leverage Flash Player's runtime capabilities. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios as attackers can potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process, which typically runs with the same permissions as the user who launched the application. This represents a significant security risk within enterprise environments where Flash Player is commonly deployed and may have elevated privileges on target systems. The vulnerability aligns with tactics described in the attack pattern taxonomy under techniques such as T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for exploitation for client execution, where attackers leverage Flash Player's capabilities to deliver malicious payloads through web-based attack chains. Organizations using affected versions of Adobe Flash Player and AIR platforms should immediately implement mitigation strategies including disabling Flash Player in web browsers, applying the latest security patches, and implementing network-based controls such as web application firewalls to block malicious Flash content. The vulnerability's exploitation potential makes it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently visit untrusted websites or where Flash content is automatically executed without user consent. Security professionals should also consider the broader implications of Flash Player's end-of-life status and plan migration strategies away from the platform to eliminate exposure to these legacy vulnerabilities. The affected versions represent a critical window of exposure that required immediate remediation efforts across enterprise and consumer deployments, highlighting the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for widely deployed software components.