CVE-2016-6984 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player before 18.0.0.382 and 19.x through 23.x before 23.0.0.185 on Windows and OS X and before 11.2.202.637 on Linux allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-4273, CVE-2016-6982, CVE-2016-6983, CVE-2016-6985, CVE-2016-6986, CVE-2016-6989, and CVE-2016-6990.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2022
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.382 and 19.x through 23.x before 23.0.0.185 on Windows and OS X platforms, as well as versions before 11.2.202.637 on Linux systems, contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This vulnerability represents a distinct security flaw from several other related issues identified in the same timeframe, including CVE-2016-4273, CVE-2016-6982, CVE-2016-6983, CVE-2016-6985, CVE-2016-6986, CVE-2016-6989, and CVE-2016-6990, each affecting different aspects of the Flash Player runtime environment. The vulnerability stems from improper memory handling mechanisms within the Flash Player's processing pipeline, where attackers could manipulate input data to trigger heap corruption conditions that ultimately lead to arbitrary code execution within the context of the running Flash Player process. This memory corruption issue manifests through unspecified attack vectors that typically involve crafting malicious Flash content or web pages that, when loaded by an affected Flash Player installation, exploit the underlying buffer overflow or memory management flaw. The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations, both of which are common indicators of memory corruption vulnerabilities. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to organizations as Flash Player remains widely deployed across enterprise environments, often integrated into web applications, corporate training materials, and legacy systems. Attackers can leverage this flaw by delivering malicious content through compromised websites, email attachments, or social engineering campaigns, potentially gaining unauthorized access to systems and executing malicious payloads with the privileges of the Flash Player process. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to include potential system compromise and data exfiltration, particularly in environments where Flash Player is frequently used for business-critical applications. Organizations using affected versions of Flash Player face increased exposure to advanced persistent threats and zero-day exploits, as this vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild before patching became available. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1203 for exploitation for execution, highlighting its potential for lateral movement and privilege escalation within compromised networks. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction, often only visiting a malicious webpage or opening a specially crafted document, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently encounter such content. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability's exploitation typically involves crafting specific payload sequences that manipulate the Flash Player's memory management subsystem, potentially leading to stack or heap corruption that can be leveraged for privilege escalation. The affected versions span multiple release channels and platforms, requiring comprehensive patch management across Windows, macOS, and Linux environments. Organizations should prioritize immediate patch deployment and implement additional security controls such as web application firewalls, content filtering, and browser sandboxing to mitigate exposure while ensuring complete remediation of this memory corruption vulnerability.