CVE-2016-0993 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in 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 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-0963 and CVE-2016-1010.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0993 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within Adobe Flash Player and Adobe AIR platforms that affected multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux. This vulnerability resides in the core processing mechanisms of these applications, specifically within their handling of integer values during memory allocation and data processing operations. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate integer calculations in a way that causes the system to allocate insufficient memory or process data beyond intended boundaries, creating exploitable conditions for arbitrary code execution.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions that can lead to memory corruption and subsequent code execution. The flaw manifests when the software processes user-supplied data through Flash Player or AIR applications, where integer values representing buffer sizes or array indices become excessively large due to improper bounds checking. This condition creates a scenario where the application allocates memory that is insufficient for the intended operation, leading to memory corruption that attackers can leverage to inject and execute malicious code. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Adobe Flash Player, with specific patched versions including 18.0.0.333, 21.0.0.182, and 11.2.202.577 across different platforms, indicating that this was a widespread issue affecting the entire Flash ecosystem.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0993 is significant as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems without requiring user interaction or authentication. This makes it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Flash Player is commonly used for multimedia content delivery, web applications, and interactive media experiences. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious websites, infected email attachments, or compromised web services that utilize Flash content. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain full system control, install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors within affected networks, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threat campaigns and zero-day exploit development.
Security mitigations for CVE-2016-0993 primarily focus on immediate patching and system hardening measures. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Adobe Flash Player installations to patched versions, ensuring that Adobe AIR applications and SDKs are also updated to prevent exploitation. Network administrators should implement web filtering solutions to block access to known malicious Flash content and consider disabling Flash Player in browsers where possible. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and execution techniques, specifically targeting the use of malicious code execution through application vulnerabilities. Additional defensive measures include implementing application whitelisting policies, monitoring for unusual memory allocation patterns, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify unpatched systems. Given that this vulnerability affects multiple platforms and versions, comprehensive patch management programs should be implemented across all affected operating systems, with particular attention to legacy systems that may continue to use unsupported Flash Player versions.