CVE-2016-4245 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-2016-4241, CVE-2016-4242, CVE-2016-4243, CVE-2016-4244, 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 represents a distinct issue from numerous other CVEs affecting the same product line during the same timeframe, highlighting the complexity and prevalence of security flaws within Flash Player's codebase. The unspecified vectors through which attackers could exploit this vulnerability demonstrate the sophisticated nature of modern attack surfaces targeting multimedia frameworks that handle untrusted content from web browsers and applications.
The technical flaw manifests as a memory corruption issue that occurs during Flash Player's processing of certain malformed or crafted input data structures. Memory corruption vulnerabilities typically arise from improper bounds checking, use-after-free conditions, or buffer overflow scenarios where attackers can manipulate memory layout to execute arbitrary code within the context of the Flash Player process. These vulnerabilities often align with CWE-119, which encompasses weaknesses related to memory safety and improper handling of memory access patterns. The attack vectors likely involve malicious web content or files that trigger specific code paths in Flash Player's rendering or parsing logic, potentially through malformed SWF files, embedded multimedia content, or manipulated data streams that cause the player to allocate or access memory in unexpected ways.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation, as it provides attackers with persistent access to compromised systems through the execution of arbitrary code. This capability allows for complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and establishment of persistent backdoors within affected environments. The vulnerability's presence across multiple Flash Player versions and platforms indicates a fundamental flaw in the application's memory management and input validation mechanisms. Organizations relying on Flash Player for content delivery face significant risk, particularly in enterprise environments where legacy applications may continue to depend on the technology despite known security risks. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers the execution of malicious code through commonly used system utilities and applications.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected Flash Player installations to the latest secure versions, as Adobe released updates addressing this specific vulnerability. System administrators should implement network segmentation and application whitelisting policies to limit Flash Player's execution scope, particularly in enterprise environments where the technology is not essential for business operations. Security monitoring should focus on detecting anomalous Flash Player behavior, including unexpected memory allocations, process execution patterns, and network connections that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms and browser security controls to reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include identification of legacy Flash Player installations to ensure comprehensive remediation across all affected systems. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version ranges underscores the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing automated update mechanisms to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.