CVE-2016-4162 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.352 and 19.x through 21.x before 21.0.0.242 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.621 on Linux allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-1096, CVE-2016-1098, CVE-2016-1099, CVE-2016-1100, CVE-2016-1102, CVE-2016-1104, CVE-2016-4109, CVE-2016-4111, CVE-2016-4112, CVE-2016-4113, CVE-2016-4114, CVE-2016-4115, CVE-2016-4120, CVE-2016-4160, CVE-2016-4161, and CVE-2016-4163.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2024
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.352 and 19.x through 21.x before 21.0.0.242 on Windows and OS X platforms, along with versions before 11.2.202.621 on Linux systems, contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution or denial of service attacks. This vulnerability represented a distinct threat vector from numerous other CVEs affecting the same software ecosystem during the same timeframe, highlighting the complexity of Flash Player's security landscape. The unspecified attack vectors within this vulnerability allowed malicious actors to manipulate memory structures in ways that could result in arbitrary code execution or system instability. The flaw specifically targeted the memory management mechanisms within Flash Player's runtime environment, creating opportunities for attackers to inject and execute malicious code directly on affected systems. This vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it affected multiple major versions of the Flash Player software across different operating systems, indicating a fundamental issue in the core memory handling code rather than a localized problem. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack tree framework, where memory corruption vulnerabilities often serve as primary entry points for privilege escalation and persistent system compromise. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-119, which addresses "Improper Access to Memory", demonstrates how improper memory handling can lead to severe security consequences including arbitrary code execution. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability created significant risk for organizations relying on Flash Player for web content delivery, as exploitation could occur through standard web browsing activities without requiring user interaction beyond visiting malicious websites. The attack surface was particularly broad given Flash Player's widespread deployment across enterprise environments and consumer systems, making this vulnerability attractive to threat actors seeking scalable exploitation opportunities. Organizations using affected versions of Flash Player faced potential compromise of entire networks through single point-of-entry attacks. The vulnerability's impact extended beyond immediate code execution capabilities to include persistent system instability that could result in denial of service conditions, affecting availability of critical applications and services. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors or deploy additional malware payloads, making it a particularly dangerous threat in enterprise environments where Flash Player was commonly used for business-critical applications. The vulnerability's exploitation required no special privileges or complex attack chains, making it accessible to threat actors of varying skill levels. Security researchers identified this issue as part of a broader pattern of memory corruption vulnerabilities in Flash Player that had been previously documented in the ATT&CK framework under techniques involving memory injection and code execution. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple major version releases suggested that the underlying memory management flaws had not been adequately addressed in previous patches, indicating potential gaps in the software's quality assurance processes. Organizations needed to implement immediate remediation measures including patching to versions 18.0.0.352 and 21.0.0.242, or upgrading to newer Flash Player releases that contained the necessary memory corruption fixes. The vulnerability also highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for widely deployed software components, particularly those with extensive browser integration capabilities. Network administrators should have implemented monitoring for exploitation attempts and considered disabling Flash Player content in enterprise environments until proper patches were deployed. The vulnerability's nature as a memory corruption issue also made it susceptible to exploitation techniques involving heap spraying and return-oriented programming, common methods documented in advanced exploitation frameworks. Organizations that had already implemented security controls such as sandboxing and application whitelisting found reduced risk from this vulnerability, though complete protection required proper patching. The vulnerability's impact on multiple operating systems including Windows, OS X, and Linux demonstrated the cross-platform nature of Flash Player's attack surface and the need for comprehensive patch management across all supported platforms. Security professionals should have prioritized this vulnerability in their risk assessment frameworks due to its potential for remote code execution and the widespread deployment of affected Flash Player versions across enterprise networks. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue also indicated that traditional security controls such as antivirus solutions might not detect exploitation attempts, requiring more sophisticated monitoring approaches. Remediation efforts should have included not only patching but also user education regarding the dangers of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping Flash Player updated. The vulnerability's existence underscored the broader security challenges associated with legacy software components that continue to be deployed despite known security risks, particularly in enterprise environments where legacy applications depend on Flash Player functionality. Organizations that had transitioned away from Flash Player deployment were less vulnerable to this specific threat vector, demonstrating the importance of proactive software migration strategies. The vulnerability's impact extended to web application security as it represented a common attack vector that could be used to compromise web browsers and subsequently target backend systems. Security teams should have monitored for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and implemented incident response procedures to address potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple version streams also highlighted the need for better vulnerability management processes and more thorough testing of security patches before deployment. This vulnerability served as a reminder of the inherent security risks associated with rich media content players and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security measures for all deployed software components.