CVE-2016-4234 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-2016-4218, CVE-2016-4219, CVE-2016-4220, CVE-2016-4221, CVE-2016-4233, 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 represented a distinct threat vector from numerous other CVEs affecting the same product line, highlighting the complex nature of Flash Player's security landscape during this period. The unspecified attack vectors involved memory corruption flaws that could be exploited by remote attackers to gain arbitrary code execution privileges or cause system instability through denial of service conditions.
The technical flaw manifested as memory corruption issues within Flash Player's processing mechanisms, particularly affecting how the software handled certain multimedia content and data structures. Attackers could craft malicious Flash content or web pages that, when loaded by an affected Flash Player version, would trigger memory corruption conditions leading to unpredictable behavior. These conditions typically occurred during the parsing or execution of malformed multimedia data, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory locations or manipulate program execution flow. The vulnerability's classification aligns with common weakness enumeration CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations that can lead to memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was severe across enterprise and individual computing environments where Flash Player remained widely deployed. Organizations relying on Flash-based applications and content were particularly vulnerable to targeted attacks that could result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or service disruption. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability meant that attackers could exploit it against Windows, OS X, and Linux systems, expanding the potential attack surface significantly. Security professionals noted that the vulnerability's exploitation was often facilitated through social engineering campaigns targeting end users to visit malicious websites or open compromised email attachments containing malicious Flash content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability centered on immediate patch deployment and comprehensive security measures. Organizations were advised to update Flash Player installations to versions 18.0.0.366, 22.0.0.209, or 11.2.202.632 respectively, depending on their platform and operational requirements. Additional protective measures included implementing browser security policies that restricted Flash content execution, deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for malicious Flash content, and establishing user education programs to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks. Security frameworks such as the ATT&CK matrix categorized this vulnerability under initial access and execution techniques, with specific focus on exploitation of software vulnerabilities and privilege escalation through memory corruption. The vulnerability also highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against zero-day exploits in widely deployed software components.