CVE-2016-4163 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-2016-4162.
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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 and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability represented a distinct security flaw from several other reported issues in the same timeframe, emphasizing the complexity of Flash Player's security landscape and the need for comprehensive patch management. The unspecified attack vectors suggested that the memory corruption could be triggered through various means within the Flash Player runtime environment, potentially through malformed multimedia content or malicious web pages that leveraged Flash Player's execution capabilities. The vulnerability's classification aligns with common weakness enumeration CWE-119, which describes weaknesses related to the lack of proper bounds checking and memory management in software applications. This particular flaw exploited fundamental memory handling mechanisms within the Flash Player runtime, where improper memory allocation or deallocation could lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability. Attackers could potentially craft malicious content that, when processed by the vulnerable Flash Player, would cause memory corruption that could be leveraged for privilege escalation or complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extended beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the memory corruption could be weaponized to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. This made the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Flash Player was commonly used for multimedia content delivery, web applications, and interactive media. The attack surface was broad due to Flash Player's widespread deployment across multiple operating systems including Windows and macOS platforms, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to exploit the vulnerability. Organizations running affected versions faced significant risk of compromise, as the vulnerability could be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring user interaction beyond visiting malicious websites. The vulnerability's presence in both major version streams of Flash Player demonstrated the persistence of memory management flaws in complex multimedia frameworks and highlighted the challenges of maintaining secure software in legacy systems that continued to receive updates despite known security issues.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability centered on immediate patch deployment and system hardening measures. Organizations should have prioritized updating to patched versions of Adobe Flash Player, specifically versions 18.0.0.352 and 21.0.0.242 for Windows and OS X platforms, and 11.2.202.621 for Linux systems. The recommended approach aligned with standard cybersecurity practices outlined in the mitre ATT&CK framework, particularly in the execution and privilege escalation tactics that could be employed through such memory corruption vulnerabilities. Network administrators should have implemented additional protective measures including web filtering solutions, browser security enhancements, and sandboxing technologies to limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscored the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all system components, as the memory corruption could potentially be chained with other exploits to achieve more sophisticated attack objectives. Security teams should have monitored for indicators of compromise related to Flash Player exploitation attempts and implemented comprehensive incident response procedures to address potential breaches. The vulnerability served as a reminder of the critical need for organizations to maintain robust patch management processes and to consider the long-term security implications of continuing to support legacy software platforms that are increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated attack vectors.