CVE-2016-1029 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE • 01/26/2023
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 or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-1012, CVE-2016-1020, CVE-2016-1021, CVE-2016-1022, CVE-2016-1023, CVE-2016-1024, CVE-2016-1025, CVE-2016-1026, CVE-2016-1027, CVE-2016-1028, CVE-2016-1032, and CVE-2016-1033.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2024
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.343 on Windows and OS X and versions before 21.0.0.213 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.616 on Linux contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability represented a distinct threat vector from other similarly numbered CVEs affecting the same product line, indicating a separate code path or memory handling issue within the Flash Player runtime environment. The flaw manifested through unspecified attack vectors that could be exploited by malicious actors to manipulate memory structures within the Flash Player process, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common memory corruption patterns found in software applications, particularly those involving complex multimedia processing components like Flash Player. Memory corruption issues typically arise from improper handling of memory allocation, buffer overflows, or use-after-free conditions that allow attackers to manipulate program execution flow. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption flaw suggests that attackers could potentially overwrite critical memory locations or manipulate heap structures to redirect program execution to malicious code. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in browser environments where Flash content is frequently executed, as it can be triggered through web pages without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a compromised site.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability created significant risk for organizations relying on Flash Player for web content delivery, particularly in enterprise environments where users might encounter malicious content through web browsers or email attachments. The impact extended beyond simple denial of service to include potential system compromise, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. This vulnerability was particularly concerning because Flash Player was widely deployed across multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, meaning the attack surface was extensive. The vulnerability could be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious web pages, compromised websites, or even email attachments containing Flash content.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability required immediate patching of Flash Player installations across all affected versions. Organizations needed to implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all systems running Flash Player were updated to versions 18.0.0.343, 21.0.0.213, or 11.2.202.616 respectively, depending on the operating system. Security teams should have implemented network monitoring to detect exploitation attempts and deployed application whitelisting policies to restrict Flash Player execution in enterprise environments where it was not required. Additionally, organizations should have considered transitioning away from Flash-based content and implementing alternative technologies that do not present the same security risks. This vulnerability highlighted the ongoing challenges of maintaining security for legacy software components and the importance of timely patch deployment in mitigating known security flaws.
The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) and CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write) categories, which represent common memory corruption patterns in software applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged through techniques such as T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) to establish persistent access or execute malicious payloads. The vulnerability also aligns with T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) as it represented an attack vector through web-based content delivery. Security professionals should have implemented layered defense strategies including web application firewalls, browser security policies, and endpoint protection measures to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability. The incident underscored the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the dangers of running outdated software components that continue to receive security vulnerabilities.