CVE-2016-4231 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-2016-4229, CVE-2016-4230, and CVE-2016-4248.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2024
The CVE-2016-4231 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player affecting multiple platform versions and operating systems. This vulnerability exists in 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, as well as before 11.2.202.632 on Linux systems. The flaw stems from improper memory management where freed memory locations are still being accessed by subsequent operations, creating a predictable exploitation vector for malicious actors. This vulnerability operates independently from several other related issues including CVE-2016-4173 through CVE-2016-4248, making it a distinct yet equally dangerous threat in the Flash Player security landscape.
The technical implementation of this use-after-free vulnerability occurs when the Flash Player engine handles certain objects in memory without proper validation of their lifecycle status. When an object is freed from memory but references to it persist within the application's execution context, attackers can manipulate the memory layout to redirect execution flow. This particular flaw allows for arbitrary code execution because the attacker can overwrite freed memory with malicious payloads, effectively bypassing standard memory protection mechanisms. The vulnerability's impact extends across multiple operating systems including Windows, OS X, and Linux platforms, demonstrating the cross-platform nature of Flash Player's security concerns and the widespread attack surface it presents to organizations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on Flash Player for web content delivery and multimedia applications. Attackers can leverage this flaw through malicious web pages or compromised websites that automatically trigger the vulnerable Flash Player functionality when users browse to them. The exploitation process typically involves crafting specific Flash content that triggers the memory corruption scenario, followed by code execution within the context of the user's session. This capability allows attackers to perform various malicious activities including data exfiltration, system compromise, and privilege escalation, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where Flash Player remains widely deployed. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-416 indicates it specifically involves improper handling of memory deallocation, which aligns with the use-after-free pattern that has been a persistent issue in software security.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability within the broader ATT&CK framework, particularly under the execution and privilege escalation categories where use-after-free vulnerabilities commonly manifest. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patch deployment for all affected Flash Player versions, implementation of network-based protections such as web application firewalls, and browser-based restrictions that prevent Flash content execution. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to reduce exposure through social engineering vectors that might exploit this vulnerability. Given the nature of the flaw, comprehensive network monitoring becomes essential to detect potential exploitation attempts, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to identify suspicious memory access patterns. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and demonstrates how legacy software components can continue to pose significant threats even after their initial release, emphasizing the need for proactive vulnerability management programs that address both current and historical security issues in enterprise software ecosystems.