CVE-2016-4156 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 • 10/06/2024
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. 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. The vulnerability exists within the Flash Player library implementation within these Microsoft browsers, creating a potential exploitation surface that could allow attackers to execute malicious code or compromise user systems. The unspecified nature of the impact and attack vectors suggests that this vulnerability may involve complex exploitation techniques or multiple attack pathways that were not fully disclosed in the initial CVE description. This type of vulnerability typically represents a critical security risk because Flash Player was widely deployed across internet browsers and operating systems, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to exploit user systems. The vulnerability's presence in both Internet Explorer 10 and 11 as well as Microsoft Edge indicates that it affects multiple browser rendering engines and could potentially impact a broad user base. The fact that this vulnerability differs from other issues in MS16-083 suggests it may involve different memory management flaws or code execution vulnerabilities that require specific exploitation techniques. This class of vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns found in software libraries and components that are frequently targeted by attackers due to their widespread use and the complexity of their implementation. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability also indicates that security researchers and vendors may have identified potential attack vectors that were not yet publicly disclosed or fully understood. This type of vulnerability typically falls under the category of memory corruption issues that can be exploited through various attack vectors including buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management flaws. The vulnerability's presence in Microsoft Edge, which uses the Chakra JavaScript engine, suggests that it may involve cross-engine exploitation techniques or vulnerabilities that affect multiple rendering environments. This vulnerability represents a significant risk to enterprise and individual users who had not yet updated to patched versions of Flash Player, as it could potentially allow for remote code execution or system compromise.
The security implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple exploitation as it demonstrates the ongoing risks associated with legacy software components and their integration into modern browser environments. The fact that this vulnerability affects both older Internet Explorer versions and Microsoft Edge indicates that it may involve core components of the browser architecture that were not properly isolated or protected against malicious Flash content. This type of vulnerability often requires deep understanding of both the Flash Player internals and the browser's security model to properly assess and mitigate. The unspecified nature of the impact and attack vectors suggests that security researchers were still investigating the full scope of potential exploitation techniques and the specific conditions required for successful attacks. This vulnerability type commonly relates to CWE categories involving memory safety issues and code execution flaws, which are frequently targeted in advanced persistent threat campaigns. The vulnerability's classification as separate from MS16-083 indicates that it likely involves different underlying mechanisms or attack surfaces that require distinct mitigation strategies and patching approaches. Organizations that had not yet updated their Flash Player installations were particularly vulnerable to this type of attack, as the vulnerability could be exploited through various delivery mechanisms including malicious websites, email attachments, or compromised web applications. The complexity of this vulnerability suggests that it may involve multiple layers of exploitation or require specific environmental conditions to be successfully leveraged by attackers. This type of vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the risks associated with using outdated software components that may contain known security flaws.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability would typically involve immediate patching of Adobe Flash Player installations across affected systems, as well as browser-level security measures to restrict Flash content execution. Security teams would need to implement network-level controls to block known malicious Flash content and monitor for unusual Flash-related activity. The vulnerability's presence in both Internet Explorer and Edge browsers necessitated coordinated patching efforts across multiple Microsoft products and components. Organizations should have implemented strict Flash Player usage policies, disabling or restricting Flash content in browsers where possible. The attack surface for this vulnerability extended beyond individual user systems to enterprise environments where Flash Player was commonly used in business applications and web-based tools. Security professionals needed to develop specific detection rules for this vulnerability type, as the unspecified nature of the attack vectors made traditional signature-based detection approaches less effective. The vulnerability also highlighted the risks associated with browser plugin architecture and the need for more secure plugin execution models. Incident response teams would have needed to prepare for potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability, as it could have been leveraged in targeted attacks against specific organizations. The vulnerability's impact on Microsoft Edge was particularly concerning as it indicated that even newer browser versions were not immune to legacy Flash Player vulnerabilities. This vulnerability type often required coordinated efforts between software vendors, security researchers, and organizations to develop comprehensive mitigation strategies that addressed both immediate exploitation risks and long-term security implications.