Firefox also exposed to Flash 0-day attack on Internet Explorer

Firefox users should probably disable Flash, with an attack that only worked on Internet Explorer (IE) yesterday now also effective against the Flash plugin for Mozilla’s browser. The good news? Microsoft has released a fix for affected IE users.

Adobe Flash Player is under attack on a number of fronts and users of the media player through browsers on Windows and Mac should take precautions. For the average user who’s interested in keeping themselves protected by ensuring they’ve got the latest software installed, it’s going to be confusing.

Today it was confirmed that not only Internet Explorer with the latest version of Flash Player version 16.0.0.257 enabled are vulnerable, but also users of the Firefox browser.

CSO Australia reported on Thursday that Windows users with that version of Flash Player enabled in Internet Explorer (IE) should disable the Flash plugin for IE, following a credible report from a security researcher that an exploit kit dubbed “Angler” was taking advantage of a newfound flaw in that version of Flash.

The report yesterday came from researcher Kafeine, who today confirmed that the Flash version 16.0.0.257 in Firefox was also open to the same attacks that were successful against IE with Flash on Windows.

Adobe is currently investigating the report, so technically the flaw that Angler is exploiting is ‘unconfirmed’. It will remain so until Adobe provides an official response.

To confuse matters more, today Adobe released an unscheduled update for Flash Player due to attacks on a separate flaw.

The update announced today brings the latest Flash for Windows and Macs up to version 16.0.0.287. According to Adobe, the update addresses a “vulnerability that could be used to circumvent memory randomization mitigations on the Windows platform.” The bug has been designated the official identifier CVE-2015-0310.

The update doesn’t address the flaw that was reported by Kafeine yesterday, which is yet to be issued a Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures or “CVE” identifier.

So, today, Adobe said it is “investigating reports that a separate exploit for Flash Player 16.0.0.287 and earlier also exists in the wild”.

In other words, Adobe is yet to determine whether the bug that Kafeine reported on Wednesday is actually a bug, however now that the update 16.0.0.287 has been released, all versions prior to it may be vulnerable.

In the absence of a confirmation from Adobe, other security researchers have confirmed the malware that is being used to distribute malware that produces fraudulent clicks on ads through services like Google’s Double Click online ad network.

Kafeine also confirmed today that Windows 8.1 Internet Explorer 11, which was previously thought to be unaffected, is actually vulnerable to the attack.

Microsoft has also released a FixIt tool for Windows 8 and 8.1 as well as Windows Server 2012.

This article is brought to you by Enex TestLab, content directors for CSO Australia.

Upcoming IT Security Events

Feb 3rd, Feb 4th, Feb 6th 2015

Join @NirZuk #PaloAltoNetworks for Breakfast (lunch in Auckland) on keeping your enterprise safe from risk. Cyber attacks continue to increase in volume and sophistication leaving traditional security practices completely ineffective. 

Register Today Seats are limited

March 3rd, March 5th, March 9th 2015

Join CSO for the day@#csoperspectives and hear from @kimzetter @frankheidt

3 International Keynote speakers, 36 Key IT Security Industry Speaker, 21 Exhibitors, Security Analysts and many more.. Register today

Dont miss one of the biggest IT Security events in ANZ (registration is free, but seats are limited)