CVE-2016-4179 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE • 01/25/2023
Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.366 and 19.x through 22.x before 22.0.0.209 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.632 on Linux allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-4172, CVE-2016-4175, CVE-2016-4180, CVE-2016-4181, CVE-2016-4182, CVE-2016-4183, CVE-2016-4184, CVE-2016-4185, CVE-2016-4186, CVE-2016-4187, CVE-2016-4188, CVE-2016-4189, CVE-2016-4190, CVE-2016-4217, CVE-2016-4218, CVE-2016-4219, CVE-2016-4220, CVE-2016-4221, CVE-2016-4233, CVE-2016-4234, CVE-2016-4235, CVE-2016-4236, CVE-2016-4237, CVE-2016-4238, CVE-2016-4239, CVE-2016-4240, CVE-2016-4241, CVE-2016-4242, CVE-2016-4243, CVE-2016-4244, CVE-2016-4245, and CVE-2016-4246.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2024
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.366 and 19.x through 22.x before 22.0.0.209 on Windows and OS X platforms, along with versions before 11.2.202.632 on Linux systems, contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution or cause denial of service conditions. This vulnerability represents a distinct threat vector from numerous other Flash Player flaws documented in the same year, specifically excluding CVE-2016-4172 through CVE-2016-4246, indicating that the memory corruption mechanism was unique and not merely a variant of previously identified issues. The vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within the Flash Player runtime environment, where insufficient input validation and memory management practices created exploitable conditions that could be leveraged by malicious actors. The technical flaw manifests as a memory corruption issue that occurs during the processing of malformed Flash content, potentially leading to heap-based buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that allow attackers to overwrite critical memory regions. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, reflecting the fundamental nature of memory corruption that enables attackers to manipulate program execution flow. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation, as it represents a significant threat to enterprise environments where Flash Player remains widely deployed for multimedia content delivery. Attackers could craft malicious Flash files that, when opened in vulnerable browsers or applications, would trigger the memory corruption, potentially resulting in full system compromise through privilege escalation or remote code execution. The attack surface is particularly broad given Flash Player's ubiquity across different operating systems and browser environments, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations that have not yet migrated away from Flash-based content. From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007: Command and Scripting Interpreter: Visual Basic, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands through the Flash Player runtime, and T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution, which describes how attackers leverage client-side vulnerabilities to execute code on target systems. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Flash Player installations, as the vulnerability provides attackers with a straightforward path to system compromise. Additionally, implementing network-based mitigations such as content filtering and disabling Flash Player in web browsers can significantly reduce the risk exposure, while endpoint detection and response solutions should be configured to monitor for suspicious Flash-related memory access patterns and process behavior anomalies. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and highlights the persistent security risks associated with legacy multimedia frameworks that continue to receive security updates despite their declining usage in modern web environments.