CVE-2016-4155 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 • 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 integrated Adobe Flash libraries. This vulnerability represents a distinct security flaw separate from other issues documented in Microsoft Security Bulletin MS16-083, indicating that attackers could potentially exploit a unique attack surface within the Flash Player component. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability means that the exact technical implementation details remain undisclosed, though the classification as a security flaw within the Flash Player library suggests a potential code execution or privilege escalation vector.
The technical implications of this vulnerability become significant when considering that Adobe Flash Player was widely integrated into web browsers, particularly Internet Explorer and Edge, making it a prime target for exploitation. The vulnerability exists within the Flash Player library that Microsoft browsers utilize, meaning that exploitation could occur through malicious web content without requiring user interaction beyond visiting compromised websites. This type of vulnerability typically resides in memory management or parsing functions within the Flash Player runtime environment, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the browser.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation as it represents a critical security gap that could be leveraged for advanced persistent threats. Attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to systems, install malware, or perform reconnaissance activities without detection. The fact that this vulnerability affects both Internet Explorer 10 and 11 indicates that organizations running legacy browser environments face particular risk, as these versions were still in use during the time of the vulnerability disclosure. The vulnerability's presence in Microsoft Edge suggests that even newer browser implementations were not immune to Flash Player-based attacks, highlighting the interconnected nature of browser security.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader attack surface that requires comprehensive remediation strategies. The recommended mitigation involves immediate patching of Adobe Flash Player to versions that address this specific vulnerability, while also implementing browser security measures such as disabling Flash Player entirely where possible. Organizations should also consider network-based protections including web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to prevent access to potentially malicious Flash content. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could map to techniques involving exploitation of known vulnerabilities and privilege escalation, while the CWE classification would likely fall under memory corruption or code execution flaws that could be exploited through web browsers.
The vulnerability's classification as separate from MS16-083 indicates that it represents a distinct attack vector requiring specific remediation efforts, rather than being part of the broader set of Flash Player issues addressed in that security bulletin. This distinction is important for security teams to understand when planning their response and patch management schedules. The lack of specific details about impact and attack vectors suggests that security researchers were still investigating the full scope of potential exploitation methods, though the vulnerability's presence in widely used browser components indicates that it posed a significant risk to enterprise environments. Organizations should prioritize updating their Flash Player installations and consider implementing additional security controls to protect against potential exploitation attempts.