CVE-2010-1280 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.5.7.609 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted .dir (aka Director) file, related to (1) an erroneous dereference and (2) a certain Shock.dir file.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2025
Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.5.7.609 and earlier contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution through specially crafted .dir files. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of malformed Director files during the parsing process, creating conditions where attackers can manipulate memory structures to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw manifests when the player encounters a maliciously constructed Shock.dir file that triggers an erroneous memory dereference operation, leading to potential code execution or system instability. The vulnerability specifically affects the way Shockwave Player processes certain file headers and metadata within Director files, where insufficient input validation allows attackers to craft payloads that overwrite memory locations beyond intended boundaries. This memory corruption issue represents a classic buffer overflow condition that can be exploited to gain unauthorized system access or cause system crashes. The attack vector requires remote delivery of a malicious file through web browsing or email attachments, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently download compromised content. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, which describes a condition where a program reads data past the end of a valid buffer, and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, which occurs when a program writes data past the end of a buffer. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that Shockwave Player was widely installed across enterprise networks, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking persistent access. Organizations running older versions of Shockwave Player should immediately implement security patches to address this memory corruption issue. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007: Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, as attackers may use PowerShell scripts to automate exploitation of this memory corruption. The risk assessment indicates this vulnerability should be prioritized for immediate remediation due to its potential for remote code execution and the widespread deployment of affected software versions. Security administrators should disable Shockwave Player functionality in web browsers and consider implementing network-based protections to block malicious .dir file extensions. The impact extends beyond individual system compromise to include potential lateral movement within networks where Shockwave Player remains enabled, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations with legacy software deployments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the Shockwave Player's file parsing engine failing to properly validate the size and structure of Director file headers. When processing a crafted Shock.dir file, the player's memory management routines do not adequately check buffer boundaries, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for code execution. This flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in input validation and memory safety practices that are essential for preventing exploitation. The error occurs during the file decompression and parsing phases where the application attempts to read structured data without proper boundary checks, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents through carefully constructed input files. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage or opening an infected email attachment, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns. Security researchers have documented that this type of memory corruption vulnerability is often exploited using return-oriented programming techniques to bypass modern security protections like DEP and ASLR. The widespread use of Shockwave Player across multiple operating systems and platforms increases the attack surface significantly, as different versions of the software may exhibit varying degrees of susceptibility to this particular memory corruption flaw. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted Shockwave content and monitor network traffic for suspicious file transfers. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-119: Improper Restriction of Operations within a Memory Buffer further emphasizes the critical nature of proper memory boundary checking. This memory safety issue demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and proper error handling in multimedia player applications, particularly those handling complex file formats with extensive metadata structures.