CVE-2009-4003 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer overflows in Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.5.6.606 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) an unspecified block type in a Shockwave file, leading to a heap-based buffer overflow; and might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via (2) an unspecified 3D block in a Shockwave file, leading to memory corruption; or (3) a crafted 3D model in a Shockwave file, leading to heap memory corruption.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2025
Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.5.6.606 and earlier contained multiple integer overflow vulnerabilities that created significant security risks for users. These vulnerabilities were classified as heap-based buffer overflows that could be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaws were particularly dangerous because they could be triggered through various methods within Shockwave file formats, making them difficult to predict and defend against. The integer overflows occurred when processing specific block types and 3D elements within Shockwave content, leading to memory corruption that adversaries could leverage for malicious purposes.
The technical implementation of these vulnerabilities involved the player's handling of integer values during parsing of Shockwave file structures. When processing unspecified block types in Shockwave files, the player would perform arithmetic operations that resulted in integer overflows, causing the application to allocate insufficient memory for buffer operations. This led to heap-based buffer overflows where attacker-controlled data could overwrite adjacent memory locations. Similarly, the 3D block processing and crafted 3D model handling created memory corruption conditions that could be exploited through stack-based buffer overflows or heap corruption techniques. These vulnerabilities were particularly concerning because they could be triggered through web-based attacks where users would simply need to view a malicious Shockwave file in the affected player version.
The operational impact of these vulnerabilities was severe, as they allowed remote code execution without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website or opening a compromised Shockwave file. Attackers could craft malicious Shockwave files that would exploit these integer overflows when opened by vulnerable Shockwave Player versions, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerabilities were particularly dangerous because Shockwave Player was widely deployed across enterprise environments and personal computers, making the attack surface extremely broad. Successful exploitation could result in privilege escalation, data theft, system control, and persistence mechanisms being established on compromised systems. The nature of these vulnerabilities also meant that they could be chained with other exploits to create more sophisticated attack vectors.
Security professionals should have immediately updated to Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.5.6.606 or later, which contained patches addressing these integer overflow conditions. Organizations needed to implement network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering to prevent access to known malicious Shockwave content. The vulnerabilities aligned with CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, and CWE-121, Stack-based Buffer Overflow, while also mapping to ATT&CK techniques including T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. Additionally, the memory corruption aspects of these vulnerabilities related to ATT&CK technique T1055 for process injection and T1547.001 for registry run keys for persistence. System administrators should have also implemented application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted Shockwave content and conducted security awareness training to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks targeting these vulnerabilities.