CVE-2016-6936 in Air SDK
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe AIR SDK & Compiler before 23.0.0.257 on Windows does not support Android runtime-analytics transport security, which might allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by leveraging access to a network over which analytics data is sent.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2022
Adobe AIR SDK and Compiler versions prior to 23.0.0.257 on Windows platforms exhibit a critical security vulnerability that stems from inadequate implementation of Android runtime-analytics transport security mechanisms. This weakness creates a pathway for remote attackers to intercept and access sensitive information transmitted through analytics data channels. The vulnerability specifically affects the Windows implementation of the Adobe AIR development environment, where the compiler and SDK components fail to properly enforce secure transport protocols when handling analytics data sent to Android runtime environments.
The technical flaw manifests in the absence of proper transport layer security controls within the Adobe AIR development tools, particularly when these tools interact with Android runtime analytics components. This deficiency allows attackers who have network access to potentially eavesdrop on analytics data transmission streams, which may contain sensitive information about application behavior, user interactions, or system configurations. The vulnerability resides in the communication protocols used by the SDK to transmit analytics data to Android runtime environments, where standard security measures such as TLS encryption or certificate validation are either absent or improperly implemented.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the intercepted analytics data could potentially reveal sensitive application architecture details, user behavior patterns, or system vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit for more sophisticated attacks. Attackers with access to the network segment where analytics data flows can leverage this weakness to gain insights into application functionality, potentially identifying additional attack vectors or system weaknesses. The vulnerability affects developers who rely on Adobe AIR SDK for Android application development, particularly in environments where network security controls may be insufficient to prevent unauthorized access to analytics data streams.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-319, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through network transmission, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1041 by enabling data exfiltration through network communications. Organizations using affected Adobe AIR SDK versions should immediately update to version 23.0.0.257 or later to remediate this security gap. Mitigation strategies include implementing network monitoring to detect unusual analytics data transmission patterns, enforcing strict network access controls, and ensuring that all development environments maintain up-to-date security configurations. Additionally, developers should consider implementing additional encryption layers or alternative analytics solutions that provide stronger transport security guarantees for sensitive data transmission.