CVE-2016-6930 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
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-2016-6927, CVE-2016-6929, CVE-2016-6931, and CVE-2016-6932.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2024
The CVE-2016-6930 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player that affected multiple versions across different operating systems. This vulnerability exists in Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.375 for Windows and OS X, and before 23.0.0.162 for the same platforms, while also affecting Linux versions before 11.2.202.635. The flaw is particularly concerning because it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems through unspecified attack vectors, making it a prime target for exploitation in zero-day attacks and advanced persistent threats. The vulnerability operates independently from several other related issues including CVE-2016-4272, CVE-2016-4279, CVE-2016-6921, CVE-2016-6923, CVE-2016-6925, CVE-2016-6926, CVE-2016-6927, CVE-2016-6929, CVE-2016-6931, and CVE-2016-6932, indicating a distinct code path that requires separate remediation efforts.
The technical nature of this use-after-free vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Flash Player runtime environment. When certain Flash content is processed, the application fails to properly validate or manage memory references, leading to situations where freed memory locations are accessed after the memory has been deallocated. This memory corruption condition creates exploitable conditions that attackers can leverage to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. The vulnerability typically manifests when processing malformed Flash objects or when Flash Player encounters unexpected memory states during content rendering operations. Attackers can craft malicious Flash content that triggers the specific memory management flaw, causing the application to access freed memory and subsequently execute arbitrary code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a significant threat vector for enterprise environments where Flash Player remains widely deployed. Organizations using vulnerable versions of Flash Player face potential compromise of user systems, data breaches, and lateral movement opportunities for attackers who successfully exploit this flaw. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Flash Player versions across different platforms increases the attack surface significantly, requiring comprehensive patch management across all affected systems. This type of vulnerability aligns with attack patterns documented in the mitre attack framework under techniques such as exploitation for privilege escalation and execution of malicious code through web-based attack vectors.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a high-priority threat requiring immediate attention due to its potential for remote code execution and the widespread deployment of Flash Player across enterprise networks. The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges of maintaining secure legacy software environments and highlights the importance of regular patch management processes. Mitigation strategies include immediate deployment of Adobe's security patches for affected versions, implementation of Flash Player lockdown configurations, and consideration of alternative technologies that do not pose similar risks. Organizations should also implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to block potentially malicious Flash content. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for maintaining up-to-date security patches and the importance of transitioning away from legacy technologies that present ongoing security risks. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in memory management, while its exploitation patterns align with ATT&CK techniques for code execution through web-based attacks and privilege escalation.