CVE-2016-0998 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability 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-2016-0987, CVE-2016-0988, CVE-2016-0990, CVE-2016-0991, CVE-2016-0994, CVE-2016-0995, CVE-2016-0996, CVE-2016-0997, CVE-2016-0999, and CVE-2016-1000.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2025
The CVE-2016-0998 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player and related Adobe AIR runtime environments that persisted across multiple versions and operating systems. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, specifically addressing use-after-free conditions where memory is accessed after it has been freed, creating exploitable conditions for arbitrary code execution. The affected software versions spanned across Adobe Flash Player 18.0.0.332 and earlier, 19.x through 21.x versions prior to 21.0.0.182 on Windows and OS X platforms, and Linux versions before 11.2.202.577. Additionally, Adobe AIR runtime environments and their corresponding SDKs were impacted, with all versions prior to 21.0.0.176 being vulnerable.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through unspecified attack vectors that leverage the improper memory management within Flash Player's runtime environment. When a malicious SWF file is loaded, it can trigger a scenario where a memory object is freed from the heap but subsequent code references this freed memory location, leading to a use-after-free condition. This flaw enables attackers to manipulate the memory layout and potentially redirect execution flow to malicious code injected into the freed memory space. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core runtime environment of Flash Player, which was widely deployed across web browsers and operating systems, making it an attractive target for exploit development. The exploit development process typically involves crafting malicious content that triggers the specific memory corruption scenario, followed by a technique called return-oriented programming or direct code injection to achieve remote code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-0998 extends beyond simple arbitrary code execution, as it represents a significant threat to enterprise security infrastructure and user systems. Organizations relying on Flash Player for business-critical applications faced potential compromise of their entire network infrastructure, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, escalate privileges, or deploy additional malware. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability meant that organizations could be impacted regardless of their operating system choice, as the flaw existed across Windows, OS X, and Linux environments. This vulnerability was particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Flash Player was commonly used for internal applications, training materials, and web-based business processes, creating multiple attack surfaces for threat actors to exploit. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would place it within the T1059.007 technique category, specifically targeting application execution through malicious Flash content, and potentially involving T1070.004 for the use of obfuscated files or information.
Organizations seeking to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2016-0998 should implement immediate remediation measures including updating all affected Adobe Flash Player installations to versions 18.0.0.333, 21.0.0.182, and later, as well as updating Adobe AIR runtime environments to version 21.0.0.176 or later. Security administrators should also consider implementing network-based controls to block Flash content from untrusted sources and deploying application whitelisting solutions to prevent execution of malicious SWF files. Additionally, organizations should consider disabling Flash Player entirely in their environments, as Adobe officially ended support for Flash Player at the end of 2020, making continued use of the technology a significant security risk. The mitigation strategy should also include monitoring network traffic for suspicious Flash-related activities and implementing proper security awareness training to prevent users from inadvertently executing malicious Flash content from untrusted sources. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running vulnerable versions of Flash Player or AIR runtime, ensuring complete remediation across their entire infrastructure.