CVE-2016-6989 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-2016-6984, CVE-2016-6985, CVE-2016-6986, and CVE-2016-6990.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2022
Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 18.0.0.382 on Windows and OS X and versions 19.x through 23.x before 23.0.0.185 on the same platforms as well as versions before 11.2.202.637 on Linux contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability type, which represents out-of-bounds read conditions where an attacker can access memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. The flaw manifested in the player's handling of malformed multimedia content and could be exploited through web browsers when users visited compromised websites or opened malicious Flash files. The vulnerability was particularly concerning because it allowed attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process, potentially leading to full system compromise. The memory corruption occurred during the processing of specific multimedia elements, enabling attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute malicious code. This vulnerability was distinct from several other related issues in the same timeframe, indicating a unique code path that had not been previously addressed. The attack vector typically involved crafting malicious Flash content that would trigger the memory corruption when processed by the vulnerable Flash Player version, making it a significant threat to users who had not yet updated their Flash installations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leveraged memory corruption techniques that aligned with ATT&CK tactic T1059.007, which involves the use of scripting languages for execution. Attackers would typically deliver malicious Flash content through phishing emails, compromised websites, or malicious advertisements, relying on the widespread use of Flash Player across various operating systems. The vulnerability's impact extended beyond simple code execution to include potential denial of service conditions, where the memory corruption could cause the Flash Player process to crash or behave unpredictably. The flaw was particularly dangerous because Flash Player was widely installed across different platforms, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking broad exploitation capabilities. Security researchers noted that the vulnerability was not limited to specific content types but could be triggered by various malformed Flash elements, making detection and prevention challenging. The memory corruption could potentially be exploited to bypass security mitigations such as DEP (Data Execution Prevention) and ASLR (Address Space Layout Randomization) due to the nature of the underlying memory access violation.
Organizations and users faced significant risk from this vulnerability due to the extensive deployment of Adobe Flash Player across enterprise environments and personal computing devices. The widespread use of Flash Player meant that a single compromised website could potentially affect thousands of users simultaneously, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in targeted attacks. The lack of sandboxing in the Flash Player architecture and the privilege escalation potential made this vulnerability especially severe from a security perspective. Mitigation strategies included immediate patching of Flash Player installations, disabling Flash Player in web browsers, and implementing network-based controls to block Flash content. The vulnerability highlighted the broader security issues associated with legacy software platforms and the challenges of maintaining security for widely deployed but outdated software components. Organizations needed to implement comprehensive patch management processes and consider alternative technologies to reduce dependency on potentially vulnerable software. Security teams should have monitored for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and implemented appropriate network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscored the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the risks associated with running outdated software components in production environments.