CVE-2016-7875 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 integer overflow vulnerability in the BitmapData class. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7875 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within Adobe Flash Player's BitmapData class implementation. This issue affects multiple versions of the popular multimedia platform, specifically those prior to 23.0.0.207 and 11.2.202.644, creating a significant security risk for users and organizations relying on Flash-based content. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer values during bitmap data processing operations, where the software fails to properly validate or constrain integer inputs before performing arithmetic operations that could result in overflow conditions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when malicious Flash content attempts to manipulate bitmap data structures through carefully crafted integer values that exceed the maximum representable value for the target data type. This overflow condition can lead to memory corruption within the Flash Player process, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable software. The flaw exists in the underlying memory management and data validation mechanisms of the BitmapData class, which is commonly used for image processing and manipulation within Flash applications. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by delivering malicious SWF files through various attack vectors including web browsers, email attachments, or compromised websites that utilize Flash content.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7875 extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a pathway to establish persistent access to affected systems. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and demonstrates the dangerous potential of improper integer handling in multimedia processing libraries. The attack surface is particularly wide given Flash Player's widespread deployment across enterprise environments and consumer systems, making it an attractive target for threat actors seeking to exploit the platform. Security researchers have documented successful exploitation techniques that can bypass modern operating system protections including address space layout randomization and data execution prevention mechanisms through the use of return-oriented programming techniques and memory corruption exploits.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by updating to Adobe Flash Player versions that address this vulnerability, as the integer overflow condition creates a direct path for privilege escalation attacks. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive patch management procedures, network segmentation to limit Flash content delivery, and implementation of web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious SWF content. Additionally, security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems. This vulnerability exemplifies the importance of proper input validation and integer boundary checking in multimedia frameworks, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through Flash content and T1203 for exploitation of software vulnerabilities. The incident underscores the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against zero-day exploits targeting widely deployed software components.