CVE-2016-4147 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 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 through their embedded Flash libraries. This vulnerability represents a distinct security issue separate from other vulnerabilities addressed in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS16-083, indicating it operates through different attack vectors and mechanisms than previously documented threats. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability means that while the existence of the flaw is confirmed, the exact technical details regarding its exploitation methods and specific impact characteristics remain undisclosed in the public CVE database. This type of vulnerability typically arises from memory corruption issues within Flash Player's runtime environment that can be triggered through maliciously crafted SWF files or web content. The vulnerability's presence in both Internet Explorer versions and Edge browser demonstrates its broad impact across Microsoft's browser ecosystem, particularly given that Edge was designed to replace Internet Explorer but still shares underlying security mechanisms with the older browser. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability represents a critical concern for organizations that may still be operating legacy Flash content or have not fully transitioned away from Flash-based web applications. The lack of detailed information about impact and attack vectors makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous for security teams attempting to assess risk exposure, as traditional vulnerability assessment methodologies may not adequately address the unknown characteristics of the flaw. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which describes weaknesses in memory management and buffer overflows, though the specific manifestation remains undefined. The operational impact of such a vulnerability could include remote code execution, privilege escalation, or information disclosure depending on the underlying technical flaw. Security researchers have noted that Flash Player vulnerabilities often provide attackers with pathways to bypass modern browser security features and exploit sandboxing mechanisms. The vulnerability's presence in both legacy Internet Explorer versions and Edge browser indicates potential exploitation through various attack surfaces including web browsing, email attachments, and malicious websites that leverage Flash content. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader security posture assessment, particularly when evaluating legacy system support and browser compatibility requirements. The absence of specific details in the CVE description suggests that either the vulnerability was discovered too recently to be fully analyzed or that its exploitation requires specific conditions that have not yet been publicly documented.
The vulnerability's classification as distinct from MS16-083 indicates that it represents a separate attack surface within Adobe Flash Player's codebase, potentially affecting different components or memory regions than previously identified threats. This separation suggests that security researchers have identified multiple independent vulnerabilities within the Flash Player runtime environment that can be exploited through different attack vectors. The vulnerability's presence in both IE 10 and 11 browsers indicates that legacy security controls may not adequately protect against this threat, particularly as these versions have reached end-of-life support status. Microsoft Edge's inclusion suggests that the vulnerability may be related to shared Flash libraries or runtime components that both browsers utilize, creating a common point of exploitation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability would likely map to multiple tactics including execution through malicious Flash content, privilege escalation if exploited successfully, and defense evasion if attackers use the vulnerability to bypass security controls. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability creates challenges for threat hunting and incident response teams who must account for potential exploitation without clear indicators of compromise. Security vendors have historically identified Flash Player vulnerabilities as high-risk due to their ability to provide attackers with privileged access to user systems. The vulnerability's existence in browsers that support both legacy and modern web standards indicates that attackers may exploit it through various delivery mechanisms including social engineering, drive-by downloads, or compromised websites that leverage outdated Flash content. Organizations should consider implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems to mitigate potential exploitation attempts while transitioning away from Flash-based content.
The technical characteristics of this vulnerability suggest it may involve memory corruption or heap-based exploitation techniques that are common in Flash Player security flaws. These types of vulnerabilities often stem from improper handling of user-supplied data within Flash Player's ActionScript runtime environment or native code components. The vulnerability's presence in multiple browser versions indicates that the underlying issue exists within shared components or libraries rather than specific browser implementations. Security researchers have documented similar vulnerabilities in Flash Player that have resulted in full system compromise, making this unspecified vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments. The vulnerability's relationship to other security issues in the same timeframe suggests that Adobe Flash Player may have suffered from a broader class of memory management problems that affect multiple aspects of the runtime environment. The lack of specific impact details in the CVE description indicates that this vulnerability may be particularly difficult to exploit reliably, but also potentially more dangerous when successfully exploited. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management programs that include Flash Player updates as part of their security maintenance routines, particularly given that Flash Player has been officially discontinued by Adobe. The vulnerability's potential for remote code execution makes it a critical concern for organizations that have not yet fully migrated away from Flash-based web applications or content management systems. Security teams should monitor threat intelligence feeds for any emerging information about exploitation attempts or specific attack vectors that may be targeting this vulnerability. The vulnerability's unspecified nature also indicates that security researchers may be actively analyzing the flaw and developing exploit code, making it a potential target for advanced persistent threats. Organizations should consider implementing browser security controls such as Flash Player blocking, sandboxing, and content restrictions to minimize potential exposure to this and similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's presence in both legacy and modern browsers demonstrates the importance of maintaining comprehensive security coverage across all supported platforms and applications.