CVE-2015-0356

Vulnerability

CVE-2015-0356 is a type confusion vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player affecting versions before 13.0.0.281, 14.x through 17.x before 17.0.0.169 on Windows and OS X, and before 11.2.202.457 on Linux [1][2]. The exact component where the type confusion occurs is not publicly disclosed, but the flaw can be triggered when processing a crafted SWF file.

Exploitation

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by delivering a malicious SWF file to a victim, typically through a compromised website, email attachment, or malvertising. No authentication is required; the victim only needs to load the SWF file in an affected Flash Player instance. The type confusion leads to memory corruption, which the attacker can leverage to achieve arbitrary code execution.

Impact

Successful exploitation allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Flash Player. This can result in full system compromise, including data theft, installation of malware, or denial of service [2]. The impact is limited to the user context, but on multi-user systems or with elevated privileges, the scope may be broader.

Mitigation

Adobe released fixed versions: 13.0.0.281, 17.0.0.169 for Windows and OS X, and 11.2.202.457 for Linux [1][2]. Red Hat and Gentoo have issued advisories urging immediate updates. No workaround is available; users must upgrade to the patched versions. The vulnerability is not listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog as of the publication date.