CVE-2016-4241 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-2016-4238, CVE-2016-4239, CVE-2016-4240, 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, and before 11.2.202.632 on Linux 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 software ecosystem, emphasizing the complexity of Flash Player's security landscape during this period. The flaw manifested through unspecified attack vectors that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain arbitrary code execution privileges on affected systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common memory corruption patterns that have been extensively documented in cybersecurity literature and classified under CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) and CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write) categories. These memory corruption issues typically arise from insufficient input validation and improper memory management within multimedia frameworks like Flash Player. The vulnerability could be triggered through malformed Flash content delivered via web browsers or other applications that utilize Flash Player components, making it particularly dangerous in web-based attack scenarios where users might unknowingly encounter malicious content.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability created significant risk for organizations relying on Flash Player for multimedia content delivery, web applications, or enterprise systems. Attackers could leverage this flaw to execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the Flash Player application, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The widespread adoption of Flash Player across various platforms and applications meant that exploitation could affect a broad range of targets, from individual users to enterprise networks. Additionally, the vulnerability's potential for denial of service attacks could disrupt legitimate business operations and productivity.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate patching of affected Flash Player installations to mitigate this risk. Organizations should implement comprehensive network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish robust incident response procedures for handling Flash-related security incidents. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and highlights the risks associated with legacy multimedia frameworks that are no longer actively supported. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1106 (Native API) techniques, as exploitation typically involves executing malicious code through system APIs and command interpreters. Organizations should also consider implementing browser security policies that restrict Flash content execution or migrate away from Flash-based applications entirely to reduce attack surface.