CVE-2010-1282 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.5.7.609 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop and CPU consumption) via a crafted ATOM size in a .dir (aka Director) file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2021
Adobe Shockwave Player versions prior to 11.5.7.609 contain a critical vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks through manipulation of ATOM size values within .dir files. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the player's file parsing routines, specifically when processing the structure and size parameters of ATOM containers used in Director file format. The flaw occurs when the player encounters a crafted ATOM size that triggers an infinite loop during the parsing process, resulting in sustained high CPU utilization and complete system resource exhaustion. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through web-based attacks where users unknowingly download and execute malicious .dir files, making it a significant threat to web application security. This issue represents a classic example of a resource exhaustion attack that aligns with CWE-400, which catalogs weaknesses related to uncontrolled resource consumption. The infinite loop mechanism typically involves the player's parser attempting to process an ATOM with an invalid size parameter that causes the parsing algorithm to repeatedly iterate without proper termination conditions, leading to indefinite CPU consumption. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe impact on system availability and can be leveraged by attackers to disrupt services or perform distributed denial of service attacks against targeted systems. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the widespread use of Shockwave Player across various platforms and the typical user behavior of executing downloaded content without proper validation. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and proper bounds checking in multimedia player applications, as these components often handle untrusted data from external sources. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1059.007, which relates to command and scripting interpreters used in malicious file execution. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including disabling Shockwave Player plugins in web browsers, deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious ATOM size patterns, and ensuring all Shockwave Player installations are updated to version 11.5.7.609 or later. Additionally, security awareness training should emphasize the risks of downloading and executing unknown .dir files from untrusted sources, as user behavior remains a critical factor in preventing exploitation of such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the broader challenge of securing multimedia applications that must process complex binary formats while maintaining robust security boundaries to prevent exploitation through malformed input data.