CVE-2016-4278 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.375 and 19.x through 23.x before 23.0.0.162 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.635 on Linux allows attackers to bypass intended access restrictions and obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-4271 and CVE-2016-4277.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2022
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.375 for Windows and OS X and versions 19.x through 23.x before 23.0.0.162 for the same platforms as well as versions before 11.2.202.635 on Linux contained a security flaw that enabled attackers to circumvent intended access controls and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. This vulnerability represented a distinct security weakness from CVE-2016-4271 and CVE-2016-4277, indicating that multiple related vulnerabilities existed within the Flash Player codebase during this timeframe. The unspecified vectors through which attackers could exploit this vulnerability suggested that the flaw existed at a fundamental level within the player's access control mechanisms, potentially affecting how the software handled permissions for various system resources and data access operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stemmed from inadequate access restriction enforcement within Adobe Flash Player's runtime environment. Attackers could leverage this flaw to access system resources or data that should have been protected by the player's security model, potentially exposing sensitive information such as user credentials, system files, or other confidential data. This type of vulnerability typically falls under the category of privilege escalation or information disclosure issues, where the attacker's capabilities exceed what the system's security model should allow. The vulnerability could be exploited through malicious Flash content delivered via web browsers or other applications that utilize Flash Player as a plugin, making it particularly dangerous in web-based attack scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was significant as it could be exploited remotely without requiring user interaction or specific conditions to be met. Organizations running affected versions of Flash Player faced potential data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive systems, and possible lateral movement within their networks. The widespread use of Flash Player across various platforms including Windows, OS X, and Linux meant that this vulnerability could affect a broad range of systems and users. Security professionals had to consider the potential for this vulnerability to be leveraged in advanced persistent threat campaigns where attackers could use it to establish persistent access to target systems and exfiltrate sensitive information over time.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focused on immediate patching of affected Flash Player versions. Organizations should have prioritized updating to the patched versions mentioned in the CVE description, specifically versions 18.0.0.375 and 23.0.0.162 for Windows and OS X, and 11.2.202.635 for Linux. Additionally, security measures such as disabling Flash Player in web browsers, implementing network-based restrictions on Flash content, and monitoring for suspicious network traffic patterns could have provided additional layers of protection. From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and could be mapped to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access. Organizations should have also implemented comprehensive vulnerability management processes to identify and remediate similar issues in other Adobe products and third-party software components that might exhibit similar security weaknesses.