CVE-2016-4238 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-2016-4234, CVE-2016-4235, CVE-2016-4236, CVE-2016-4237, 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, contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that could be exploited by remote attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution or cause denial of service conditions. This vulnerability represents a distinct threat vector from numerous other CVEs affecting the same software ecosystem, emphasizing the complexity and breadth of security issues within Adobe Flash Player's codebase during this period. The unspecified attack vectors suggest that multiple code paths within the Flash Player runtime could be leveraged by malicious actors to trigger memory corruption anomalies.
The technical flaw manifests as memory corruption issues that occur when processing specially crafted content within Flash Player's runtime environment. These memory corruption vulnerabilities typically arise from improper handling of memory allocation, deallocation, or access patterns that can lead to buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management errors. Such flaws are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited to overwrite critical memory regions, potentially allowing attackers to inject and execute malicious code within the context of the Flash Player process. The vulnerability affects multiple versions across different operating systems, indicating a widespread issue within Adobe's Flash Player implementation that required comprehensive patching across all supported platforms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. This represents a significant escalation from typical denial of service conditions, as it provides adversaries with potential access to system resources, data exfiltration capabilities, or further attack vectors within the compromised environment. The vulnerability's presence across multiple versions and operating systems suggests that attackers could target a broad range of users, making this a particularly concerning security issue for enterprises and individual users alike. Organizations running affected Flash Player versions faced heightened risk of compromise, particularly in environments where Flash content was frequently accessed or where users had elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patching of all affected Flash Player installations across supported platforms. Adobe released security updates addressing this specific memory corruption issue, and system administrators should have prioritized deployment of these patches to prevent exploitation. Additional protective measures included implementing content filtering solutions to block potentially malicious Flash content, disabling Flash Player execution in web browsers where possible, and monitoring for suspicious network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should have also considered implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict Flash Player execution to trusted environments only, as recommended by industry security frameworks. This vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns described in the attack mitigation techniques section of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to exploitation of software vulnerabilities and privilege escalation through memory corruption attacks.
The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in securing complex multimedia frameworks like Adobe Flash Player, where the combination of rich functionality and extensive codebases creates numerous potential attack surfaces. Security researchers have identified similar memory corruption patterns in other multimedia and scripting frameworks, highlighting the need for comprehensive memory safety practices in software development. This particular vulnerability underscores the importance of regular security updates and the risks associated with running outdated software components in enterprise environments. The specific nature of this flaw, requiring targeted patching across multiple versions and platforms, reflects the complexity of maintaining security in widely deployed multimedia software that serves diverse operating environments and user requirements.