CVE-2016-7873 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Flash Player versions 23.0.0.207 and earlier, 11.2.202.644 and earlier have an exploitable memory corruption vulnerability in the PSDK class related to ad policy functionality method. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2022
Adobe Flash Player contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability in its PSDK class that affects versions 23.0.0.207 and earlier, as well as 11.2.202.644 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically relates to the ad policy functionality method within the PSDK class, which is responsible for handling advertising content and policies within Flash applications. The memory corruption occurs when processing certain malformed input data through the ad policy mechanisms, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute arbitrary code. The flaw stems from insufficient bounds checking and input validation within the PSDK class implementation, allowing attackers to craft malicious Flash content that triggers buffer overflows or heap corruption when the affected methods are invoked. This vulnerability represents a classic example of a heap-based buffer overflow that can be exploited through crafted Flash files delivered via web browsers or other Flash Player environments. The security implications are severe as successful exploitation enables attackers to gain complete control over the affected system, potentially allowing for privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or persistence mechanisms. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through Flash content. The attack surface is broad as Flash Player was widely deployed across multiple platforms and browsers, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations with legacy Flash content. The memory corruption specifically impacts the PSDK class's handling of ad policy functionality, which means that any Flash application utilizing advertising features or policy enforcement mechanisms could be vulnerable. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious SWF files that trigger the vulnerable code path, leveraging the lack of proper memory bounds checking to overwrite critical memory structures. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader Flash Player remediation strategy, particularly for systems running older versions that remain in production environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the risks associated with legacy Flash Player components and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for multimedia frameworks. This issue highlights the challenges of securing complex multimedia applications that process untrusted content from web sources, where input validation becomes critical for preventing memory corruption attacks. The PSDK class vulnerability represents a significant risk to enterprise security environments where Flash Player remains active, particularly in scenarios involving legacy web applications or systems that have not fully transitioned away from Flash-based content. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems and consider implementing network-level controls to restrict access to Flash content where possible. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of understanding how multimedia frameworks interact with system memory and the need for comprehensive security testing of application components that handle untrusted data inputs.