CVE-2016-1030 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
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 bypass intended access restrictions via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2024
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.343 and 19.x through 21.x before 21.0.0.213 on Windows and OS X, along with versions before 11.2.202.616 on Linux, contained a critical access restriction bypass vulnerability that enabled attackers to circumvent intended security controls. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the Flash Player runtime environment, allowing malicious actors to execute unauthorized operations that should have been restricted by the platform's security model. The unspecified vectors referenced in the description suggest that the flaw could be exploited through multiple attack surfaces within the Flash Player architecture, potentially including memory corruption issues, improper privilege handling, or flawed sandbox enforcement mechanisms.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems. The flaw represents a breakdown in the security model that Flash Player implements to isolate potentially malicious content from the underlying operating system. When attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability, they can bypass the security restrictions that normally prevent Flash content from accessing local files, executing system commands, or interacting with other applications in unauthorized ways. This access bypass capability significantly expands the attack surface available to threat actors and could potentially lead to full system compromise when combined with other exploitation techniques.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability created substantial risk for users of affected Flash Player versions, as it could enable attackers to perform actions that would normally be restricted within the Flash sandbox. The vulnerability affected multiple operating systems including Windows and OS X platforms, making it particularly dangerous given the widespread use of these systems. Linux users were also impacted through older versions of Flash Player, though the specific affected version ranges differ from the Windows and OS X variants. The attack surface was further expanded by the fact that Flash Player was widely used across various web applications, making exploitation more likely and potentially more impactful.
Organizations and users should have immediately updated to the patched versions of Flash Player to mitigate this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy involved deploying the latest security patches provided by Adobe, which addressed the underlying access restriction bypass mechanisms. System administrators should have implemented additional security controls including web application firewalls, content filtering solutions, and browser security enhancements to reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability also highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that reduce reliance on single security controls. This particular vulnerability demonstrated how flaws in runtime security mechanisms could have widespread implications across different platforms and attack scenarios, reinforcing the need for comprehensive security assessments of all software components that handle untrusted input. The incident contributed to the broader industry understanding of sandboxing vulnerabilities and the critical importance of proper access control implementation in runtime environments.
This vulnerability exemplifies ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers the use of Flash Player for code execution and privilege escalation. The access bypass capability directly enabled attackers to perform operations that would normally be restricted, potentially allowing for privilege escalation and system compromise. Security professionals should have monitored for indicators of compromise related to Flash Player exploitation attempts, including unusual network connections, file access patterns, and system behavior anomalies that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process required not only patch deployment but also comprehensive security awareness training to help users understand the risks associated with outdated Flash Player installations and the importance of maintaining current software versions.