CVE-2015-0310: Adobe Flash Player ASLR Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2015-0310 is an address space layout randomization (ASLR) bypass in Adobe Flash Player. The product fails to properly restrict discovery of memory addresses, allowing an attacker to undermine ASLR protections that normally randomize where code and data sit in memory. Because Flash historically ran inside browsers and other host applications across many endpoints, a successful bypass can make follow-on memory-corruption attacks more reliable. The product is end-of-life; CISA states it should be disconnected if still in use. Confirm all version and configuration details against the vendor advisory.

How it works

The weakness is catalogued as CWE-264 (Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls). In practical terms, Adobe Flash Player does not adequately prevent an attacker from learning the locations of memory regions that ASLR is intended to hide. ASLR is a core operating-system defense that forces exploits to guess or leak addresses before they can reliably redirect execution or corrupt structures. When an application leaks or otherwise exposes those addresses, the attacker can calculate offsets and chain the information into a larger exploit, often delivered through malicious Flash content in a web page or document. Public detail on exact trigger conditions and exploit mechanics is limited; treat any proof-of-concept claims cautiously and verify against the original vendor advisory rather than third-party write-ups.

Am I affected? How to find it in your systems

Adobe Flash Player was commonly installed as a browser plug-in, an ActiveX control, or a stand-alone runtime on Windows, macOS, and legacy enterprise desktops and kiosks. It also appeared inside older versions of Adobe Reader, certain enterprise portals, and custom line-of-business applications that embedded the Flash runtime. Because the product has reached end-of-life, any remaining installation is unsupported.

• Inventory endpoints and servers for Flash binaries, browser plug-ins, and registry or package-manager entries that reference Flash Player.
• Check software deployment tools, SCCM/Intune inventories, and vulnerability scanners for residual Flash components; confirm exact build numbers against the vendor advisory because public summaries do not list them here.
• Review browser configuration and Group Policy or MDM profiles that may still allow Flash content.
• Look for crash dumps, browser hang reports, or security-product alerts that mention Flash memory-access anomalies; these are not definitive indicators of exploitation but warrant investigation when paired with suspicious web or document activity.
• Examine proxy, DNS, and endpoint telemetry for connections to known malicious Flash-hosting domains or unusual SWF downloads, keeping in mind that such signs are generic to the Flash attack surface.

How to remediate

The primary remediation is removal. CISA’s required action is explicit: the impacted product is end-of-life and should be disconnected if still in use. Uninstall Flash Player completely from every system, revoke any remaining browser permissions that load Flash content, and replace dependent applications with modern HTML5 or vendor-supported alternatives. If a vendor security update was ever issued for this CVE, apply it only as a temporary bridge while you complete removal; do not rely on patches for an end-of-life product. After removal, validate that no residual libraries or COM objects remain and that browsers no longer enumerate Flash plug-ins. Harden the broader environment by enforcing least-privilege browser settings, enabling OS-level exploit mitigations (ASLR, DEP, CFG where available), and keeping host operating systems and browsers fully patched so that other memory-corruption vectors are also reduced.

If you can't patch immediately

When immediate uninstall is blocked by a legacy business dependency, apply compensating controls until the dependency can be retired:

• Network segmentation: isolate systems that still require Flash onto restricted VLANs with egress filtering that blocks unnecessary web and file-sharing protocols.
• Application control: use allow-listing to prevent execution of Flash binaries except from tightly controlled paths, and disable the Flash plug-in in all browsers via Group Policy or configuration profiles.
• Virtual patching / content filtering: deploy web-proxy or WAF rules that strip or block SWF content and known Flash exploit kit patterns; treat these as temporary signatures only.
• Disable the affected feature: turn off Flash entirely in browser settings and document viewers; prefer click-to-play only if absolute business need exists, and monitor every activation.
• Heightened monitoring: forward endpoint process-creation, module-load, and browser crash events to a SIEM; alert on Flash process launches, unusual child processes, or memory-permission changes. Retain packet captures of any remaining Flash traffic for later forensic review.

These measures reduce exposure but do not eliminate the underlying ASLR-bypass risk; schedule full removal as the definitive fix.

If your data may have been exposed

Actively exploited vulnerabilities of this class have historically been used to gain initial access and move laterally, which can lead to data theft or ransomware even when ransomware use is not specifically documented for this CVE. If you discover residual Flash installations or signs of exploitation, treat the incident as a potential breach: isolate affected hosts, collect volatile evidence, and begin standard incident-response procedures. As a quick additional check, you can run a free exposure scan of your email addresses against known breach data sets to see whether credentials or personal information have already appeared in public dumps.