CVE-2016-6927 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE • 01/25/2023
Use-after-free vulnerability in 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 via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-4272, CVE-2016-4279, CVE-2016-6921, CVE-2016-6923, CVE-2016-6925, CVE-2016-6926, CVE-2016-6929, CVE-2016-6930, CVE-2016-6931, and CVE-2016-6932.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2024
The CVE-2016-6927 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player that affected multiple version ranges across different operating systems. This vulnerability specifically impacted Windows and macOS versions before 18.0.0.375 and 19.x through 23.x before 23.0.0.162, as well as Linux versions before 11.2.202.635. The flaw stems from improper memory management within the Flash Player runtime environment, creating conditions where freed memory blocks could be accessed and potentially exploited by malicious actors. Such vulnerabilities fall under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions that occur when a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves attackers crafting malicious Flash content that triggers the flawed memory management scenario. When the Flash Player processes this malicious content, it creates a situation where memory allocated to objects becomes freed but subsequent code references this memory, potentially allowing attackers to control the execution flow. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code on the target system, bypassing standard security controls and potentially providing attackers with full system access. The vulnerability operates at the application level within the Flash Player runtime, making it difficult to detect through traditional network-based security measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6927 extends far beyond simple code execution, as it represents a significant threat to enterprise security environments where Flash Player remains widely deployed. Organizations running affected versions of Flash Player face substantial risk of compromise through drive-by downloads and malicious websites that deliver exploit code. The vulnerability's presence in both Windows and macOS environments, along with Linux variants, means that attackers can target multiple operating systems through a single exploit vector. This cross-platform nature aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes exploitation of software vulnerabilities to gain system access. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw means that successful exploitation requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where users may inadvertently encounter malicious content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6927 focus primarily on immediate patching and application of Adobe's security updates. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Flash Player installations to versions 18.0.0.375, 23.0.0.162, or 11.2.202.635 respectively, depending on their operating system and current Flash Player version. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management policies that include regular security updates for all Adobe products. Additional mitigations include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious Flash content, disabling Flash Player in web browsers where possible, and deploying endpoint protection solutions that monitor for suspicious memory access patterns. The vulnerability's nature as a memory corruption issue also makes it susceptible to exploit prevention techniques such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention, which are standard security controls recommended by NIST guidelines for mitigating such classes of vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability can be leveraged through various attack vectors including social engineering and malicious advertisements.