CVE-2018-4877 in Flash Player
Summary
by MITRE
A use-after-free vulnerability was discovered in Adobe Flash Player before 28.0.0.161. This vulnerability occurs due to a dangling pointer in the Primetime SDK related to quality of service functionality. A successful attack can lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4877 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Adobe Flash Player versions prior to 28.0.0.161, specifically impacting the Primetime SDK component that handles quality of service functionality. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-416, which classifies use-after-free conditions as a serious security weakness where memory is accessed after it has been freed, potentially leading to unpredictable behavior and exploitation opportunities.
The technical flaw manifests as a dangling pointer issue within the Primetime SDK implementation, where the Flash Player fails to properly manage memory references after objects have been deallocated. When the quality of service functionality processes certain media content or streaming parameters, it creates conditions where freed memory locations are subsequently accessed, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate the application's memory state. This particular implementation flaw occurs in the handling of multimedia streaming components that utilize the Primetime SDK for content protection and delivery services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and directly translates to arbitrary code execution capabilities for remote attackers. When exploited successfully, an attacker can craft malicious Flash content that triggers the use-after-free condition, allowing them to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Flash Player process. This presents a significant threat vector since Flash Player was widely deployed across various platforms and browsers, making the attack surface extensive. The vulnerability can be exploited through web-based attacks where users inadvertently visit compromised websites or click on malicious links that deliver the exploit payload.
The exploitation of CVE-2018-4877 aligns with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the Tactic of Execution and the technique of Command and Scripting Interpreter. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to target systems, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond immediate code execution to include potential privilege escalation and lateral movement within networks where Flash Player is installed. Security researchers have noted that the exploitation typically requires user interaction through web browsers, making social engineering components often necessary for successful compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability center on immediate patching of Adobe Flash Player to versions 28.0.0.161 or later, which contain the necessary memory management fixes. Organizations should also implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems that can detect and block malicious Flash content. Additionally, security teams should consider disabling Flash Player entirely in their environments, given its long history of vulnerabilities and the fact that Adobe officially discontinued Flash Player at the end of 2020. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that all instances of the vulnerable software have been properly updated and that no legacy installations remain operational.