CVE-2016-6990 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-2016-6989.
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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, along with versions before 11.2.202.637 on Linux, contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability represents a sophisticated memory management flaw that could be exploited through unspecified attack vectors, distinguishing it from several other related vulnerabilities including CVE-2016-4273 and CVE-2016-6982 through CVE-2016-6989. The flaw resides in how Flash Player handles memory allocation and deallocation during the processing of maliciously crafted content, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate heap memory structures through carefully constructed input data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption mechanisms that can be triggered when Flash Player processes malformed multimedia content or embedded scripts within web pages. Attackers can leverage this weakness by delivering malicious Flash content through compromised websites or email attachments, where the vulnerable player component executes code with the privileges of the current user. The memory corruption occurs during the handling of specific data structures, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory locations or manipulate pointers, leading to arbitrary code execution. This type of 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 in memory corruption exploits.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability posed significant risks to enterprise environments where Flash Player was widely deployed, as it could be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring user interaction beyond visiting malicious websites. The impact extended beyond simple denial of service to full system compromise, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to compromised systems. Security researchers noted that the vulnerability's exploitation was particularly concerning due to its potential for use in advanced persistent threat campaigns, where attackers could leverage the memory corruption to bypass security controls and maintain long-term access to target networks. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Flash Player versions across different operating systems increased its attack surface considerably.
Organizations should have implemented immediate patch management procedures to update Flash Player to versions 18.0.0.382, 23.0.0.185, or 11.2.202.637 respectively, depending on their operating system and platform requirements. Security teams needed to conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running vulnerable Flash Player versions and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. The mitigation strategy should have included network-based controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering to block Flash content from untrusted sources, along with endpoint protection measures to prevent execution of malicious Flash content. Additionally, organizations should have considered implementing browser hardening measures and disabling Flash Player entirely in environments where it was not essential for business operations, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1195 which covers content injection attacks through web browsers.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlighted the ongoing security challenges associated with legacy software components that remain in widespread use despite known security flaws. The vulnerability demonstrated how complex multimedia frameworks could contain subtle memory management issues that become exploitable under specific conditions, emphasizing the importance of regular security assessments and timely patch deployment. Organizations needed to establish robust processes for tracking and managing third-party software vulnerabilities, particularly those with widespread deployment and critical business functions. This vulnerability also reinforced the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security intelligence feeds and implementing automated vulnerability management systems to quickly identify and respond to similar threats in the future, ensuring that the security posture remained resilient against evolving attack vectors.