CVE-2016-4249 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4249 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe Flash Player affecting multiple versions across different operating systems. This flaw exists in 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, as well as before 11.2.202.632 on Linux systems. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management during the processing of certain Flash content, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate heap memory structures and potentially execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs within the heap memory management of Flash Player's runtime environment. When processing maliciously crafted Flash content, the player fails to properly validate input data sizes before copying them into allocated heap buffers. This allows attackers to write beyond the bounds of allocated memory regions, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including function pointers, return addresses, or other critical control data. The vulnerability operates at the heap level, making it particularly dangerous as it can lead to code execution without requiring precise memory layout knowledge that might be present in stack-based buffer overflows.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on Flash Player for web content delivery. The exploitability of this flaw means that attackers could leverage it through web browsers that have Flash Player enabled, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The impact extends beyond individual user machines to enterprise environments where Flash Player remains widely deployed in legacy applications and web portals. Security researchers have noted that the vulnerability's exploitation often requires social engineering to deliver malicious Flash content to target systems, though automated exploitation techniques have been documented in the wild.
The attack vector for this vulnerability typically involves users visiting compromised websites or opening malicious email attachments containing embedded Flash content. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique involving code injection and privilege escalation, with the initial compromise often occurring through web-based attacks. Organizations should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, which is classified as a common weakness in software security. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the widespread deployment of Flash Player across different platforms, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to maximize their exploitation potential across diverse computing environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4249 require immediate action to disable or remove Flash Player from affected systems, particularly given that Adobe officially discontinued Flash Player support in 2020. Organizations should implement network-level controls to block Flash content delivery, deploy updated browser security policies, and conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify remaining Flash Player installations. The remediation process should include updating all Flash Player versions to the latest supported releases, though due to the end-of-life status of Flash Player, complete removal of the software from systems is the most effective long-term solution. Security teams should also monitor for any potential zero-day exploitation attempts and implement network detection capabilities to identify suspicious Flash-related network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.