CVE-2016-4128 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE • 01/26/2023
Unspecified vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player 21.0.0.242 and earlier, as used in the Adobe Flash libraries in Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 and 11 and Microsoft Edge, has unknown impact and attack vectors, a different vulnerability than other CVEs listed in MS16-083.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2023
Adobe Flash Player versions 21.0.0.242 and earlier contain an unspecified vulnerability that affects Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 and 11, as well as Microsoft Edge browsers. This vulnerability exists within the Adobe Flash libraries that are integrated into these browser environments, creating a potential attack surface that differs from other vulnerabilities documented in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS16-083. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability means that while the exact technical flaw remains undisclosed, it represents a significant security risk that could be exploited by adversaries to gain unauthorized access to systems or execute malicious code. The vulnerability's presence in multiple browser environments including Internet Explorer 10 and 11, along with Microsoft Edge, indicates a widespread potential impact across different operating system versions and user configurations.
The technical implications of this vulnerability stem from the integration of Adobe Flash Player components within Microsoft's browser architecture, where Flash content execution is handled through browser-integrated libraries rather than standalone applications. This integration creates complex attack vectors where malicious Flash content could potentially exploit memory corruption issues, privilege escalation mechanisms, or other underlying flaws in the Flash Player runtime that are then leveraged through browser interfaces. The vulnerability's classification as different from other CVEs in MS16-083 suggests it operates through distinct exploitation methods or targets different system components, making it particularly challenging to detect and mitigate using standard security measures. This characteristic aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack mitigation frameworks, where vulnerabilities in embedded runtime components often present unique exploitation challenges that require specialized defensive strategies.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser-based attacks to potentially compromise entire system architectures when users interact with malicious Flash content. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code, escalate privileges, or establish persistent access points within affected systems. The fact that it affects both older Internet Explorer versions and Microsoft Edge indicates that organizations maintaining legacy browser configurations remain at risk, while also highlighting the ongoing challenges of supporting multiple browser environments and their integrated runtime components. Security professionals must consider this vulnerability in the context of broader attack surface management, as it represents a potential entry point for advanced persistent threats that could leverage the Flash Player integration within Microsoft browsers to achieve broader system compromise.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including disabling Flash Player functionality in affected browsers, applying available patches from Adobe and Microsoft, and implementing network-based controls to block Flash content execution. The vulnerability's unspecified nature makes traditional signature-based detection methods less effective, requiring organizations to adopt more comprehensive approaches such as behavioral monitoring and application whitelisting. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability would be categorized under industry standards related to runtime security and browser hardening, with potential implications for frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 controls for system and information integrity. The mitigation approach should also consider the broader context of the attack lifecycle, as documented in MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on initial access and execution phases where Flash-based attacks commonly occur, requiring layered defensive measures that address both endpoint and network-level protection mechanisms.