CVE-2016-4229 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE • 01/25/2023
Use-after-free vulnerability in 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 via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-4173, CVE-2016-4174, CVE-2016-4222, CVE-2016-4226, CVE-2016-4227, CVE-2016-4228, CVE-2016-4230, CVE-2016-4231, and CVE-2016-4248.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The CVE-2016-4229 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player that affected multiple versions across different operating systems. This vulnerability specifically impacted Flash Player versions before 18.0.0.366 and 19.x through 22.x before 22.0.0.209 on Windows and OS X platforms, while also affecting versions before 11.2.202.632 on Linux systems. The flaw stems from improper memory management practices where the application continues to reference memory locations after they have been freed, creating exploitable conditions that can be leveraged by malicious actors to gain unauthorized system access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it firmly within the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software applications. This type of memory corruption vulnerability occurs when a program attempts to access memory that has already been deallocated, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate the program's execution flow. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the vulnerability description suggest that the exploitation could occur through various attack surfaces within the Flash Player runtime environment, making it particularly dangerous as it could be triggered through multiple code paths including web browsing, multimedia content execution, or embedded Flash objects in web pages.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability posed significant risks to enterprise and individual users alike, as Flash Player was widely deployed across web browsers and applications. The ability to execute arbitrary code remotely through this flaw meant that attackers could potentially install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors on compromised systems. The vulnerability's impact extended beyond simple privilege escalation as it could be leveraged for full system compromise, particularly given Flash Player's broad execution environment and its integration with web browsers. The fact that this vulnerability was distinct from several other related CVEs in the same year indicates that it represented a unique exploitation vector that required specific mitigation strategies.
Security professionals and organizations had to implement immediate remediation measures to protect their systems from exploitation attempts. The recommended mitigation strategy involved updating to the patched versions of Adobe Flash Player, specifically those mentioned in the CVE description, along with implementing network-based controls such as content filtering and browser security enhancements. The vulnerability highlighted the ongoing security challenges associated with rich internet applications and the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components. Organizations also needed to consider broader security measures including web application firewalls, browser hardening, and user education about the risks of executing untrusted Flash content, as the exploitation of such vulnerabilities often occurred through social engineering tactics targeting users to click on malicious links or visit compromised websites.
The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would place it within the privilege escalation and execution domains, as attackers could leverage the use-after-free condition to gain elevated privileges and execute malicious code with the same privileges as the Flash Player process. This particular vulnerability demonstrated the persistent security risks associated with legacy software components and the importance of maintaining comprehensive patch management programs, especially for widely deployed applications like Adobe Flash Player that served as common attack vectors for sophisticated threat actors.