CVE-2016-4184 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-2016-4179, CVE-2016-4180, CVE-2016-4181, CVE-2016-4182, CVE-2016-4183, 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 • 01/25/2023
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 code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability represented a distinct threat vector from numerous other Flash Player flaws documented in the same year, specifically excluding CVE-2016-4172 through CVE-2016-4246, which indicates the flaw had unique exploitation characteristics and underlying technical mechanisms.
The vulnerability stemmed from improper memory handling within Flash Player's runtime environment, particularly when processing malformed or specially crafted content. Attackers could leverage this weakness by delivering malicious Flash content through web browsers or other applications that embedded Flash Player components. The memory corruption occurred during the parsing or rendering of Flash objects, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution at the privilege level of the Flash Player process. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations, both of which are common precursors to memory corruption exploits.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extended beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise. Attackers could execute malicious code on vulnerable systems, potentially leading to data theft, system persistence, or further network infiltration. The vulnerability affected multiple platform versions simultaneously, making it particularly dangerous as it could target diverse computing environments including desktop operating systems and server platforms. Security researchers noted that the exploitation techniques often involved sophisticated memory manipulation methods that could bypass standard security mitigations such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention.
Organizations and users faced significant risk from this vulnerability due to Flash Player's widespread deployment across enterprise networks and consumer environments. The attack surface was extensive as Flash Player was integrated into numerous web browsers and applications, creating multiple potential entry points for exploitation. Mitigation strategies focused primarily on immediate patch deployment, as Adobe released security updates addressing this specific flaw. Additional protective measures included browser security configurations, network-based filtering of Flash content, and user education regarding the risks of executing untrusted Flash content. This vulnerability exemplified the broader security challenges associated with legacy software components, particularly those with complex runtime environments and extensive attack surfaces.
The technical nature of this vulnerability placed it within the ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for command and script interpreter, as exploitation often involved executing malicious code through Flash Player's scripting capabilities. Organizations implementing security controls needed to consider both endpoint protection measures and network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrated the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing comprehensive patch management processes. Security professionals emphasized that this flaw represented a typical example of how complex multimedia frameworks could introduce significant security risks when not properly maintained and updated with security patches.