CVE-2016-4218 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-2016-4185, CVE-2016-4186, CVE-2016-4187, CVE-2016-4188, CVE-2016-4189, CVE-2016-4190, CVE-2016-4217, 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 • 10/04/2024
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 code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability represents a distinct threat vector from numerous other CVEs in the same year, specifically excluding CVE-2016-4172 through CVE-2016-4246, which indicates that the flaw was not part of the commonly known exploitation patterns of that time period. The vulnerability stems from improper memory handling mechanisms within the Flash Player runtime environment, where attackers could manipulate memory structures through carefully crafted input vectors to achieve arbitrary code execution on vulnerable systems. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and potentially remote code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability typically involves crafting malicious Flash content that triggers memory corruption during normal Flash Player operation. Attackers can leverage this flaw by delivering malicious SWF files through web browsers or other Flash Player-enabled applications, where the vulnerable player processes the content and subsequently corrupts memory structures. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which involves execution through scripting languages, and more specifically with T1548.002 related to abuse of group policy preferences. The attack surface is particularly broad since Flash Player was widely deployed across different operating systems and browsers, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to exploit the common denominator of Flash support across various platforms.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-4218 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the memory corruption can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. This capability allows attackers to gain persistent access to compromised systems, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Flash Player versions across different operating systems means that organizations needed to implement comprehensive patch management strategies to address all affected platforms. Security teams faced the challenge of monitoring for exploitation attempts while maintaining business continuity, as Flash Player was integral to many enterprise applications and web-based services. The vulnerability's persistence across major Flash Player versions also highlighted the risks associated with legacy software support and the importance of timely security updates.
Organizations should have implemented immediate mitigation strategies including disabling Flash Player in web browsers, deploying application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of vulnerable Flash components, and monitoring network traffic for exploitation attempts. The recommended remediation approach involved updating to patched versions of Adobe Flash Player, with the specific versions 18.0.0.366 and 22.0.0.209 for Windows and OS X, and 11.2.202.632 for Linux systems. Security administrators should have also considered implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to detect and block malicious Flash content, while conducting thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running vulnerable Flash Player versions. This vulnerability underscored the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against zero-day exploits targeting widely deployed software components.