CVE-2016-1013 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE • 01/26/2023
Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.343 and 19.x through 21.x before 21.0.0.213 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.616 on Linux allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-1011, CVE-2016-1016, CVE-2016-1017, and CVE-2016-1031.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2025
The CVE-2016-1013 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player that affected multiple versions across different operating systems. This vulnerability specifically impacted Flash Player versions before 18.0.0.343 and 19.x through 21.x before 21.0.0.213 on Windows and OS X platforms, while also affecting versions before 11.2.202.616 on Linux systems. The flaw falls under the broader category of memory corruption vulnerabilities that have long been exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized system access. The vulnerability operates through unspecified attack vectors that differ from other related CVEs including CVE-2016-1011, CVE-2016-1016, CVE-2016-1017, and CVE-2016-1031, indicating a distinct exploitation method that required unique defensive approaches.
The technical implementation of this use-after-free vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Flash Player runtime environment. When the Flash Player processes certain multimedia content or executes specific JavaScript commands, it fails to properly validate memory references after objects have been freed from memory. This creates a scenario where an attacker can manipulate the application to reuse memory locations that have already been deallocated, potentially allowing for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, and represents a classic example of how improper memory management can lead to severe security implications. The flaw demonstrates how complex multimedia frameworks like Flash Player can become attack surfaces when memory handling mechanisms fail to properly track object lifecycles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass full system compromise capabilities. Attackers leveraging this flaw could execute malicious code with the privileges of the Flash Player process, typically running with user-level permissions but potentially elevated through additional exploitation techniques. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed Flash Player installations across multiple platforms created an extensive attack surface that security professionals had to monitor closely. This type of vulnerability often serves as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, allowing threat actors to establish persistent access or deploy additional malware payloads. The timing of this vulnerability's disclosure coincided with broader industry awareness of Flash Player's security shortcomings, which ultimately contributed to the platform's declining usage and eventual end-of-life.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1013 centered primarily on immediate patch deployment and comprehensive system hardening measures. Organizations needed to prioritize updating Flash Player installations across all affected platforms to eliminate the use-after-free condition. Security teams implemented browser security policies that restricted Flash content execution and enforced sandboxing mechanisms where available. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and demonstrated how legacy applications could pose significant risks when not properly maintained. Network security controls such as content filtering and application whitelisting helped reduce exposure while patches were deployed. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability would be categorized under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, emphasizing the multi-stage nature of exploitation that often follows such memory corruption flaws. The incident underscored the necessity of regular security assessments and the importance of transitioning away from inherently risky technologies like Flash Player to more secure modern alternatives.