CVE-2016-7859 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player versions 23.0.0.205 and earlier, 11.2.202.643 and earlier have an exploitable use-after-free vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2022
Adobe Flash Player contains a critical use-after-free vulnerability that affects versions 23.0.0.205 and earlier, as well as 11.2.202.643 and earlier. This flaw occurs when the player processes maliciously crafted content that triggers a use-after-free condition in memory management. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of object references where memory is freed but references to that memory location remain accessible, creating a scenario where attackers can manipulate the freed memory to execute arbitrary code. The technical implementation involves the flash player's handling of dynamic object allocation and deallocation during multimedia content processing, particularly in scenarios involving complex media manipulation and scripting. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in memory management, making it a prime target for exploitation in advanced persistent threat campaigns. The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows remote code execution without user interaction, enabling attackers to bypass traditional security controls and establish persistent access to affected systems. The attack surface extends across various operating systems including windows, macos, and linux platforms where flash player is installed. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The exploitation typically begins with a malicious web page or document delivery mechanism that triggers the flash player to process the crafted content, leading to memory corruption and subsequent code execution. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling flash player plugins, updating to patched versions, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability represents a significant risk to enterprise environments where flash player remains enabled, particularly in legacy systems that have not been properly migrated away from flash-based content. Security teams must also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for unusual flash player behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process requires comprehensive patch management across all affected systems, including web browsers and operating systems that may have flash player components integrated into their architecture.