CVE-2010-1284 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.5.7.609 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or possibly execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2010-1286, CVE-2010-1287, CVE-2010-1289, CVE-2010-1290, and CVE-2010-1291.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2021
Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.5.7.609 and earlier contains a critical vulnerability that enables remote attackers to achieve either denial of service through memory corruption or arbitrary code execution through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability represents a distinct security flaw separate from other related issues within the same vulnerability family. The affected software component processes Shockwave content files that may contain malicious payloads designed to exploit memory handling errors within the player's runtime environment. When a user opens a specially crafted Shockwave file, the vulnerable player attempts to parse and execute the malicious content which triggers memory corruption conditions that can lead to application crashes or system instability. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices within the Shockwave Player's handling of multimedia content. Attackers can leverage this weakness by hosting malicious Shockwave files on compromised web servers or distributing them through social engineering campaigns targeting unsuspecting users. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the memory corruption can potentially be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the Shockwave Player. This vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption flaws that are commonly classified as CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, or similar memory management errors. The attack surface is particularly concerning given Shockwave's widespread use in web browsers and desktop applications, making it an attractive target for threat actors seeking to establish persistent access or cause system-wide disruptions. Organizations utilizing older versions of Shockwave Player face significant risk exposure due to the lack of proper bounds checking and memory protection mechanisms in place during content parsing operations. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic example of how multimedia plugins can serve as attack vectors for privilege escalation and system compromise. Security researchers have identified that the flaw occurs during the parsing of Shockwave content structures where insufficient validation allows attackers to manipulate memory layouts and potentially redirect execution flow. This particular vulnerability requires no user interaction beyond viewing the malicious content, making it especially dangerous in automated attack scenarios. The exploitation techniques often involve crafting Shockwave files with malformed data structures that trigger buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions within the player's memory management subsystem. The potential for remote code execution makes this vulnerability particularly severe when considering that Shockwave Player was commonly installed on corporate networks and personal computers. Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the Shockwave Player to version 11.5.7.609 or later, which includes memory safety improvements and enhanced input validation mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems to prevent access to known malicious Shockwave content. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting weaknesses in software applications to execute malicious code, and T1190, which covers the exploitation of vulnerabilities in remote services or applications. Given the nature of the flaw, system administrators should also monitor for unusual memory access patterns and application crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts. The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of maintaining up-to-date multimedia plugins and the risks associated with legacy software components that may contain unpatched security flaws. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of vulnerable Shockwave Player installations and ensure proper remediation procedures are followed. Additionally, user education regarding the dangers of opening untrusted Shockwave content remains crucial in preventing successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution threat places it within the most critical severity categories, requiring immediate attention from security teams and system administrators across all affected environments.