CVE-2016-4142 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 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 this vulnerability means that the exact technical flaw has not been publicly detailed, but it represents a significant security concern given that Flash Player was a widely deployed runtime environment for multimedia content and interactive applications. The vulnerability's presence in both legacy Internet Explorer versions and the newer Edge browser demonstrates the broad impact across Microsoft's browser ecosystem where Flash Player components are integrated. This type of vulnerability typically arises from memory corruption issues or improper input validation within Flash Player's handling of multimedia content, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems through malicious Flash content delivered via web browsers.
The technical implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple code execution as it represents a fundamental security flaw in how Flash Player components interact with browser environments. When Flash Player is embedded within Internet Explorer or Edge, it operates with elevated privileges that can potentially bypass standard browser security restrictions. The vulnerability's classification as different from other CVEs in MS16-083 suggests it operates through distinct attack vectors or exploitation methods, possibly involving memory corruption that could be leveraged for privilege escalation or remote code execution. This aligns with common patterns found in Flash Player vulnerabilities that typically stem from issues such as buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or improper memory management within the ActionScript runtime environment. The vulnerability's presence in multiple browser versions indicates that the underlying flaw exists within the shared Flash Player library components rather than being isolated to specific browser implementations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on legacy browser configurations where Flash Player remains enabled and active. The attack vectors typically involve visiting malicious websites hosting compromised Flash content or receiving phishing emails with embedded Flash-based malware. The impact can range from complete system compromise to data exfiltration, depending on the specific exploitation method and target environment. Security professionals must understand that Flash Player vulnerabilities often provide attackers with persistent access to systems, as the runtime environment can be leveraged to establish backdoors or maintain long-term presence within networks. The vulnerability's presence in both Internet Explorer 10/11 and Edge browsers creates a complex security landscape where organizations must consider multiple attack surfaces, particularly in environments where legacy browser support is maintained for compatibility reasons.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies that address this vulnerability through multiple layers of defense. The primary recommendation involves disabling Flash Player in all browser environments where it is not absolutely required for business operations, as Flash Player has been deprecated by Adobe and represents an ongoing security risk. System administrators should deploy automatic updates for Flash Player components where possible, though the vulnerability's unspecified nature means that traditional patch management may not fully address the issue. Network-based defenses such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions should be configured to block Flash content from untrusted sources, aligning with defense-in-depth principles. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing sandboxing technologies that can isolate Flash Player execution to prevent potential exploitation from affecting the broader system. The vulnerability's classification as a separate issue from MS16-083 indicates that it requires distinct mitigation approaches, potentially involving different detection and response procedures than other Flash-related vulnerabilities. This aligns with the broader security principle that each vulnerability should be treated as a unique threat requiring specific protective measures, particularly when dealing with deprecated software components that continue to pose risks in modern computing environments.