CVE-2010-1286 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-2010-1284, 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 memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote attackers to either cause denial of service conditions or potentially execute arbitrary code on affected systems. This vulnerability represents a distinct security flaw from other related issues within the same timeframe, specifically excluding CVE-2010-1284, CVE-2010-1287, CVE-2010-1289, CVE-2010-1290, and CVE-2010-1291, which indicates that the flaw exists in a separate code path or component within the software. The unspecified vectors suggesting the vulnerability could be triggered through various attack methods including malformed Shockwave content or specially crafted web pages that load Shockwave Player components. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory corruption flaws that are commonly classified as CWE-125, representing out-of-bounds read conditions, or CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write conditions, which are frequently exploited in remote code execution scenarios. The security implications extend beyond simple denial of service as attackers could potentially leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized code execution privileges on vulnerable systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because Shockwave Player was widely deployed across enterprise and consumer environments, making the attack surface substantial. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1203, which covers Exploitation for Client Execution, and potentially T1059, representing Command and Scripting Interpreter, if successful exploitation occurs. The memory corruption aspect suggests that attackers could manipulate heap or stack memory structures through improper input handling or buffer management within the Shockwave Player runtime environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple attack vectors since Shockwave Player was commonly embedded in web browsers and used for interactive content delivery across various platforms. Attackers could craft malicious web pages or Shockwave files that, when opened by an affected user, would trigger the memory corruption condition. The potential for arbitrary code execution means that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to affected systems. Organizations running older versions of Shockwave Player were particularly vulnerable as they lacked the security patches that would have addressed this specific memory corruption flaw. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution threat means that users did not need to perform any specific actions beyond viewing malicious content, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or compromised websites. Security researchers noted that the vulnerability could be exploited through various input sources including web-based Shockwave content, email attachments, or malicious websites that embedded Shockwave Player components. The fact that this vulnerability was separate from other related CVEs suggests that the memory corruption occurred in distinct code modules or processing paths within the Shockwave Player architecture, potentially indicating multiple independent flaws or that the vulnerability existed in different components than the previously disclosed issues.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patching of Shockwave Player installations to version 11.5.7.609 or later, which contained the necessary security fixes addressing the memory corruption issue. Organizations should have implemented network-based security controls to block Shockwave content where possible, as the vulnerability was particularly dangerous due to its remote exploitation potential. System administrators needed to conduct comprehensive inventory audits to identify all systems running vulnerable versions of Shockwave Player and prioritize patching efforts accordingly. The remediation process involved not only updating the Shockwave Player software but also ensuring that all related components and plugins were current. Security teams should have monitored for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems, as the vulnerability could be triggered through various attack vectors including web browsing and email attachments. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date multimedia player software and implementing robust patch management processes to prevent exploitation of similar memory corruption flaws in other Adobe products or third-party applications. Organizations were advised to consider disabling Shockwave Player entirely where it was not essential for business operations, as the risk of exploitation outweighed the functionality benefits. The incident underscored the critical nature of vulnerability management and the necessity of timely patch deployment to protect against remote code execution threats that could lead to complete system compromise.