CVE-2018-15983 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
Flash Player versions 31.0.0.153 and earlier, and 31.0.0.108 and earlier have an insecure library loading (dll hijacking) vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to privilege escalation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15983 resides within Adobe Flash Player software, specifically affecting versions 31.0.0.153 and earlier, as well as 31.0.0.108 and earlier. This represents a critical insecure library loading flaw that manifests through dll hijacking techniques, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate privileges on affected systems. The vulnerability stems from the improper handling of dynamic link library loading processes within the Flash Player runtime environment, where the application fails to properly validate or restrict the locations from which external libraries can be loaded.
The technical flaw exploits the Windows dynamic link library loading mechanism by placing malicious dll files in directories that are searched before the legitimate system directories, a technique known as dll hijacking. When Flash Player attempts to load required libraries, it inadvertently loads attacker-controlled code instead of the intended system libraries. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-427 weakness category, which specifically addresses uncontrolled search path, and is closely related to CWE-426 which addresses untrusted search path. The operational impact is severe as successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process, which often runs with elevated permissions, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
From an operational perspective this vulnerability creates significant risk for enterprise environments where Flash Player remains installed and actively used, particularly in scenarios where users have administrative privileges on their systems. The attack vector typically involves tricking users into viewing malicious content through web browsers or other applications that invoke Flash Player, making it particularly dangerous in targeted phishing campaigns or drive-by download attacks. The vulnerability aligns with several tactics in the MITRE ATT&CK framework including privilege escalation through exploitation of software vulnerabilities and defense evasion techniques that leverage legitimate system tools.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including disabling Flash Player entirely through group policies or browser settings, as Adobe officially discontinued support for Flash Player in 2020. System administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory audits to identify all remaining installations and remove them from production environments. Additional protective measures include implementing application whitelisting policies, monitoring for suspicious library loading activities, and ensuring that all systems are updated with the latest security patches from Adobe. Network segmentation and user access controls should be strengthened to limit potential exploitation impact, while security monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous behavior related to dll loading operations and privilege escalation attempts.