CVE-2016-4141 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
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 • 10/05/2024
Adobe Flash Player version 21.0.0.242 and earlier contains an unspecified vulnerability that affects Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 and 11 as well as Microsoft Edge browsers. This vulnerability represents a distinct security flaw separate from other issues documented in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS16-083, indicating that it operates through different attack vectors and mechanisms than previously identified threats. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability means that while the exact technical details remain undisclosed, the presence of this flaw in widely deployed Flash Player components within major browser environments poses significant security risks. The vulnerability exists within the Adobe Flash libraries that are integrated into Microsoft's browser ecosystems, creating a potential attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors to compromise user systems through browser-based attacks.
The technical implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple code execution or privilege escalation scenarios. Given that Flash Player components are deeply integrated into browser architectures, the vulnerability could potentially enable remote code execution or privilege escalation attacks that leverage the trusted Flash runtime environment. This type of vulnerability typically resides in the memory management or parsing mechanisms of the Flash Player engine, where improper handling of specific input data could lead to memory corruption. The attack vectors for such vulnerabilities often involve malicious web content that triggers the vulnerable Flash Player functionality when loaded in affected browsers, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code on target systems with the privileges of the user running the browser.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial considering the widespread deployment of affected Flash Player versions across enterprise and consumer environments. Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer 10/11 users running vulnerable Flash Player versions face potential exposure to sophisticated attacks that could result in complete system compromise. The vulnerability's presence in browser-based Flash libraries means that users could be exploited simply by visiting malicious websites or opening compromised web content, without requiring any additional user interaction beyond normal browsing behavior. Organizations relying on these browsers for business operations face potential data breaches, system compromises, and unauthorized access to sensitive information, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise security postures.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by Adobe and Microsoft. Organizations should prioritize deployment of the latest Flash Player versions that contain fixes for this unspecified vulnerability, while also implementing browser security controls such as disabling Flash content entirely where possible. The vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack tree model, where attackers exploit browser plugin vulnerabilities to establish initial access points before escalating privileges or moving laterally within networks. Security teams should implement network monitoring to detect suspicious Flash-related activity and consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict Flash Player execution to trusted environments only. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of vulnerable Flash Player installations within the organization's infrastructure.