CVE-2018-15982
Adobe Flash Player Use-After-Free Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2018-15982 is a HIGH use after free vulnerability affecting Adobe Flash Player, carrying a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8. Adobe Flash Player com.adobe.tvsdk.mediacore.metadata Use After Free Vulnerability Affected products include Adobe Flash Player (<= 31.0.0.153), Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop (6.0), Redhat Enterprise Linux Server (6.0), Redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation (6.0), Adobe Flash Player Installer (<= 31.0.0.108). This CVE is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog with a remediation deadline of 2022-08-15. CISA's KEV catalog confirms ransomware association for this vulnerability. With an EPSS score of 0.93762 (99.85th percentile), this vulnerability demonstrates significant real-world exploitation activity and should be prioritized for immediate remediation.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| adobe | flash player | <= 31.0.0.153 |
| redhat | enterprise linux desktop | 6.0 |
| redhat | enterprise linux server | 6.0 |
| redhat | enterprise linux workstation | 6.0 |
| adobe | flash player installer | <= 31.0.0.108 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106116(Broken Link, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3795(Third Party Advisory)
- https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/flash-player/apsb18-42.html(Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/46051/(Exploit, Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry)
- https://github.com/cisagov/vulnrichment/issues/195(Issue Tracking)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2018-15982(Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-416: Use After Free
CVE-2018-15982 is classified under CWE-416 — Use After Free. Use After Free (UAF) is a vulnerability that occurs when software continues to use a pointer after the memory it references has been freed. Once memory is freed, it may be reallocated for other purposes. If the dangling pointer is subsequently dereferenced, the program may read or write to memory now used for different data structures, leading to data corruption, information disclosure, or code execution. Use-after-free vulnerabilities are particularly prevalent in complex applications with manual memory management, including browsers, document parsers, and operating system kernels.
In the context of Adobe Flash Player, this weakness is particularly concerning because Use-after-free vulnerabilities are highly exploitable and consistently rank among the most dangerous software weaknesses. Attackers leverage heap manipulation techniques to control what data occupies the freed memory when the dangling pointer is dereferenced. By placing attacker-controlled objects (containing function pointers or vtables) in the freed space, code execution is achieved when the stale pointer is used. Organizations using affected versions should understand that this vulnerability class has historically enabled severe compromises across enterprise environments.
Impact Analysis
CVE-2018-15982 carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8 (HIGH) with Unchanged Scope.
Confidentiality (HIGH): Successful exploitation grants the attacker extensive access to sensitive data processed by Adobe Flash Player, including configuration files, credentials, and potentially data from connected systems.
Integrity (HIGH): Attackers can modify critical system files, install backdoors, alter configurations, or deploy malware on affected systems running Adobe Flash Player.
Availability (HIGH): Complete disruption of the affected service or system is possible, including denial of service, system crashes, or rendering the product inoperable.
Scope Unchanged: The vulnerability's scope is Unchanged (U), meaning exploitation is contained within the vulnerable component. The impact, while significant, is limited to the Adobe Flash Player environment itself.
With an EPSS score of 0.93762 (99.85th percentile), this vulnerability ranks among the most likely to be exploited in real-world attacks, underscoring the urgency of remediation.
Exploit Maturity
CVE-2018-15982 has confirmed active exploitation in the wild and is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Exploit status: This vulnerability has been actively exploited, as confirmed by its inclusion in the KEV catalog. The EPSS score of 0.93762 (99.85th percentile) places it among the most exploited vulnerabilities tracked.
Ransomware association: CISA's KEV catalog confirms a known association between CVE-2018-15982 and ransomware campaigns. Threat actors have leveraged this vulnerability as part of ransomware attack chains for initial access or lateral movement.
Public exploits: Exploit code is publicly available, including references at www.exploit-db.com. The availability of public exploit code significantly lowers the barrier to exploitation.
KEV deadline: CISA required federal agencies to remediate this vulnerability by 2022-08-15. All organizations should treat this deadline as a strong recommendation for their own remediation timelines.
Remediation
- Apply vendor patches immediately. The impacted product is end-of-life and should be disconnected if still in use. Consult the vendor advisory at helpx.adobe.com for specific patch guidance.
- Verify affected product versions in your environment. Identify all instances of Adobe Flash Player in your infrastructure (affected versions: Adobe Flash Player (<= 31.0.0.153), Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop (6.0), Redhat Enterprise Linux Server (6.0), Redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation (6.0), Adobe Flash Player Installer (<= 31.0.0.108)). Use asset inventory and vulnerability scanning tools to ensure no instances are missed.
- Implement interim mitigations if patching is delayed. If immediate patching is not feasible, apply network-level controls such as restricting access to the affected component, enabling enhanced logging, and monitoring for indicators of compromise.
- Scan for signs of prior exploitation. Given the confirmed active exploitation of this vulnerability, review system logs and security monitoring data for evidence of compromise. Conduct a thorough investigation if any suspicious activity is detected.
- Update detection signatures and monitoring rules. Ensure intrusion detection and prevention systems, endpoint detection tools, and SIEM rules are updated to detect exploitation attempts targeting CVE-2018-15982.
- Conduct a post-remediation review. After patching, verify the fix is effective and document the remediation actions taken. Update your vulnerability management records and assess whether any additional hardening measures are warranted.
Technical Details
CVE-2018-15982 is a HIGH-severity vulnerability in Adobe Flash Player that can be exploited locally, typically requiring a user to open a malicious file or execute a malicious application. The attack complexity is low, meaning no specialized conditions or preparation are required beyond the attack prerequisites. No prior authentication or privileges are needed to initiate the attack. User interaction is required, meaning a victim must perform an action such as opening a file, clicking a link, or visiting a website for exploitation to succeed.
Technical mechanism: Adobe Flash Player com.adobe.tvsdk.mediacore.metadata Use After Free Vulnerability The underlying flaw relates to use after free, where Use After Free (UAF) is a vulnerability that occurs when software continues to use a pointer after the memory it references has been freed. Once memory is freed, it may be reallocated for other purposes.
CVSS 3.1 vector analysis: The vector reflects an Attack Vector of LOCAL, Attack Complexity of LOW, Privileges Required of NONE, User Interaction of REQUIRED, Scope UNCHANGED, and impact ratings of HIGH/HIGH/HIGH for Confidentiality/Integrity/Availability respectively. The Unchanged scope means impact is contained within the vulnerable component itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2018-15982?
CVE-2018-15982 is a HIGH-severity vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) in Adobe Flash Player that adobe Flash Player com.adobe.tvsdk.mediacore.metadata Use After Free Vulnerability. It is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, confirming real-world exploitation. This vulnerability has been associated with ransomware campaigns.
Which products are affected by CVE-2018-15982?
The affected products include Adobe Flash Player (<= 31.0.0.153), Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop (6.0), Redhat Enterprise Linux Server (6.0), Redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation (6.0), Adobe Flash Player Installer (<= 31.0.0.108). Organizations running any of these versions should verify their exposure and prioritize remediation. Multiple product versions and configurations are affected, making thorough asset inventory essential.
How do I fix CVE-2018-15982?
The impacted product is end-of-life and should be disconnected if still in use. Ensure all affected instances of Adobe Flash Player are identified using vulnerability scanning and asset management tools. If immediate patching is not possible, implement network-level mitigations and enhanced monitoring. After patching, verify the fix and scan for indicators of prior compromise.
How severe is CVE-2018-15982?
CVE-2018-15982 is rated HIGH with a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8. Its EPSS score of 0.93762 places it in the 99.85th percentile for exploitation likelihood. The vulnerability has confirmed active exploitation in the wild and is associated with ransomware campaigns, was required to be remediated by federal agencies by 2022-08-15 per CISA's KEV directive.
Need Help With Vulnerability Management?
Our security experts can help you prioritize and remediate vulnerabilities effectively.