CVE-2016-4185 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-2016-4184, 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 CVEs in the same timeframe, specifically excluding CVE-2016-4172 through CVE-2016-4246, which were classified under different exploit patterns. The flaw manifested in unspecified attack vectors that allowed malicious actors to manipulate memory structures within the Flash Player runtime environment, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected user. This memory corruption vulnerability specifically targeted the way Flash Player handled certain data structures during processing, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code into the memory space of the running application. The vulnerability's impact was particularly severe given Flash Player's widespread deployment across various operating systems and its integration with web browsers, making it a prime target for exploitation in the cyber threat landscape. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability would be categorized under CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, which represents a fundamental memory safety issue where the application reads memory beyond its allocated boundaries. The ATT&CK framework would classify this vulnerability under T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution, as it represents a technique used to execute malicious code on target systems through compromised software applications. The exploitation of this vulnerability typically required crafting specially designed malicious Flash content that would trigger the memory corruption during normal playback operations, often delivered through compromised websites or malicious email attachments. Organizations running affected Flash Player versions faced significant risk as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain complete control over affected systems, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, and further lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple Flash Player versions highlighted the complexity of the underlying memory management issues and the difficulty in patching such fundamental runtime errors. Security researchers identified that the vulnerability stemmed from inadequate bounds checking and memory validation mechanisms within Flash Player's ActionScript execution engine, which failed to properly validate input data before processing. The remediation process required immediate patch deployment across all affected systems, as the vulnerability remained exploitable even when users were not actively browsing malicious sites, given Flash Player's automatic execution capabilities within web browsers. This vulnerability exemplified the broader security challenges associated with legacy software components that remained in widespread use despite known security risks, emphasizing the critical importance of timely patch management and software lifecycle maintenance.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involved sophisticated techniques that leveraged memory corruption patterns to achieve privilege escalation and code execution. Attackers typically employed techniques such as heap spraying or return-oriented programming to manipulate the memory layout and redirect execution flow within the Flash Player process. The vulnerability's nature as a memory corruption issue meant that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, as the attacker could execute arbitrary code with the same privileges as the Flash Player process. This made the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Flash Player was commonly used for business-critical applications and web-based services. The vulnerability's impact extended beyond simple code execution to include potential denial of service scenarios where attackers could crash the Flash Player process or the entire system, disrupting normal business operations. Organizations needed to implement comprehensive security measures including web application firewalls, browser security policies, and user education to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability. The vulnerability's existence also highlighted the importance of sandboxing mechanisms and privilege separation in modern software design, as the Flash Player's memory corruption could potentially be exploited to break out of sandbox boundaries. Security professionals noted that this vulnerability demonstrated the continued relevance of memory safety issues in modern software development, despite decades of advances in programming languages and security practices. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw meant that attackers did not require physical access to target systems, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where users frequently interacted with web content. Organizations that failed to patch this vulnerability risked exposure to advanced persistent threats and targeted attacks that could lead to significant data loss and operational disruption.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate action across all affected systems, including the deployment of security patches provided by Adobe and implementation of additional protective measures. Organizations should have implemented browser security policies that restricted Flash Player execution or disabled it entirely for non-essential applications, following the principle of least privilege in security management. The vulnerability's characteristics made it particularly suitable for exploitation in targeted attacks, where attackers would craft specific malicious content designed to trigger the memory corruption in specific Flash Player versions. Security teams needed to monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and system logs, as the vulnerability could be exploited through various delivery mechanisms including compromised websites, email attachments, and social engineering campaigns. The vulnerability's impact on different operating systems required platform-specific mitigation approaches, with Windows systems needing additional protection against privilege escalation attacks and macOS systems requiring specific memory protection enhancements. Organizations should have implemented automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all endpoints, as the vulnerability's exploitation window remained open until patches were applied. The vulnerability's nature also necessitated enhanced user awareness training to help employees recognize potentially malicious Flash content and avoid visiting compromised websites. Security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-128 and ISO 27001 provided guidance for managing this type of vulnerability through proper risk assessment and incident response procedures. The vulnerability's resolution required coordination between multiple security teams including endpoint protection, network security, and application security teams to ensure comprehensive protection across all system components. Organizations that had already begun migrating away from Flash Player technology were better positioned to avoid exposure to this and similar vulnerabilities, demonstrating the importance of modernizing legacy applications and reducing dependency on outdated software components. The vulnerability's long lifespan in the threat landscape underscored the critical need for continuous security monitoring and rapid response capabilities to address emerging threats before they could be exploited in real-world attacks.