CVE-2016-4280 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 execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-4274, CVE-2016-4275, CVE-2016-4276, CVE-2016-4281, CVE-2016-4282, CVE-2016-4283, CVE-2016-4284, CVE-2016-4285, CVE-2016-6922, and CVE-2016-6924.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2022
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.375 and 19.x through 23.x before 23.0.0.162 on Windows and OS X platforms, along with versions before 11.2.202.635 on Linux systems, contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability represents a distinct flaw from several other related issues affecting the same software ecosystem, specifically excluding CVE-2016-4274 through CVE-2016-4285, CVE-2016-6922, and CVE-2016-6924, which indicates that attackers could exploit this weakness without triggering the mitigations or detection mechanisms designed for the other vulnerabilities in the same family. The vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within Flash Player's processing of multimedia content, particularly when parsing certain data structures that could be embedded in web pages or delivered through malicious files. This memory corruption issue typically manifests when the application attempts to access memory locations that have either been freed or are otherwise invalid, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code into the target system's memory space. The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack technique framework, specifically relating to code injection and memory corruption attacks that leverage software flaws to execute arbitrary commands. According to the Common Weakness Enumeration standard, this vulnerability maps to weakness category CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and subsequent arbitrary code execution. The attack surface for this vulnerability extends across web browsers that utilize Flash Player as an embedded plugin, making it particularly dangerous as users could encounter malicious content while browsing legitimate websites. The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers to gain complete control over affected systems, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or the deployment of additional malware. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability means that successful exploitation could result in system crashes, denial of service conditions, or more insidiously, persistent backdoor access. Organizations and individuals using affected Flash Player versions faced significant risk exposure, as the vulnerability could be exploited through drive-by downloads, malicious advertisements, or compromised websites without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious page. The patching process for this vulnerability required immediate attention from system administrators, as the window of opportunity for exploitation was considerable given Flash Player's widespread deployment across enterprise and consumer environments. Security researchers and threat intelligence teams closely monitored this vulnerability due to its potential for zero-day exploitation, as the memory corruption nature often allows for sophisticated attack techniques that can bypass traditional security controls. The remediation strategy centered on immediate deployment of Adobe's security patches, with additional mitigations including browser plugin isolation, network-level filtering, and user education about avoiding untrusted content sources. This vulnerability highlighted the broader security challenges associated with rich media applications and underscored the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components to prevent exploitation of known memory corruption flaws. The incident also demonstrated how interconnected vulnerabilities within software ecosystems can create cascading security risks, where a single memory corruption flaw can provide attackers with multiple attack vectors and escalation opportunities. Organizations that failed to implement timely patches faced potential compromise of their entire network infrastructure, as Flash Player remained a common attack vector for enterprise security breaches. The vulnerability's impact extended beyond immediate exploitation capabilities to include long-term security implications, as compromised systems could serve as persistent entry points for advanced persistent threat actors. Security professionals recommended implementing layered defense strategies including web application firewalls, content filtering solutions, and regular security assessments to address the broader threat landscape surrounding Flash Player vulnerabilities. The remediation process for this vulnerability required careful coordination between security teams and application administrators, as Flash Player's integration into various web browsers and operating systems created complex deployment scenarios that needed systematic addressing.