CVE-2009-3464 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.5.2.602 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted Shockwave content on a web site, related to an "invalid pointer vulnerability," a different issue than CVE-2009-3465. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2024
Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.5.2.602 and earlier contains a critical vulnerability classified as an invalid pointer vulnerability that enables remote code execution when users visit malicious websites hosting crafted Shockwave content. This vulnerability specifically affects the player's handling of malformed data structures during content parsing, creating a memory corruption scenario that adversaries can exploit to inject and execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw occurs within the player's Shockwave content processing engine where improper validation of user-supplied data leads to memory access violations that can be leveraged for privilege escalation and system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage, making it an ideal candidate for drive-by download attacks and automated exploitation campaigns.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where programs access memory locations outside the intended bounds of allocated buffers. In this case, the invalid pointer vulnerability manifests when Shockwave Player attempts to process malformed SWF files or Shockwave content that contains crafted data structures designed to trigger memory corruption. Attackers can construct malicious Shockwave content that, when loaded by the vulnerable player, causes the application to dereference invalid memory pointers, leading to unpredictable behavior including code execution. The exploit typically involves manipulating the player's memory management routines through carefully crafted Shockwave files that exploit the pointer validation weaknesses in the player's parser. This vulnerability represents a classic buffer overflow scenario where the invalid pointer dereference creates a condition that allows attackers to overwrite critical memory regions and redirect program execution flow.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-3464 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities when users encounter malicious Shockwave content. Organizations running affected versions of Adobe Shockwave Player face significant risk exposure since the vulnerability can be exploited through web-based attacks without requiring any local privileges or user interaction beyond browsing to compromised sites. The attack surface is particularly broad given Shockwave's widespread deployment across enterprise environments and the prevalence of Shockwave content on various websites. Security researchers have documented numerous successful exploitation attempts where attackers leveraged this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, install malware, and conduct reconnaissance activities on compromised systems. The vulnerability's exploitation is further amplified by the fact that Shockwave Player was commonly enabled by default in many browser configurations, increasing the probability of successful compromise.
Organizations should immediately deploy patches from Adobe that address the invalid pointer vulnerability in Shockwave Player versions prior to 11.5.2.602, as this represents a critical security update that resolves the memory corruption issue. System administrators should consider implementing browser security measures such as disabling Shockwave content in web browsers, employing content filtering solutions, and monitoring for suspicious Shockwave-related network traffic. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for privilege escalation, indicates that successful exploitation can lead to elevated system privileges and persistent access. Additional mitigations include network segmentation to limit exposure, regular security assessments to identify vulnerable systems, and user education regarding the risks of visiting untrusted websites. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint protection solutions that can detect and block exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability, as well as maintaining up-to-date vulnerability management processes that include regular scanning for Shockwave Player installations and prompt patch deployment. The remediation process should prioritize immediate patching of all affected systems while implementing layered security controls to reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation attempts from succeeding.