CVE-2010-1291 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-2010-1286, CVE-2010-1287, CVE-2010-1289, and CVE-2010-1290.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2021
Adobe Shockwave Player versions prior to 11.5.7.609 contained a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enabled attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability represented a distinct security flaw separate from other related issues within the same timeframe, highlighting the complexity of software exploitation techniques in multimedia player applications. The vulnerability stemmed from improper memory handling mechanisms within the Shockwave Player runtime environment, where insufficient input validation and buffer management allowed maliciously crafted content to trigger memory corruption states.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues that can lead to arbitrary code execution, typically classified as a CWE-119 vulnerability related to insufficient protection of references to memory. Attackers could exploit this weakness by delivering specially crafted Shockwave content that would cause the player to improperly handle memory allocations, leading to stack or heap corruption. The attack vectors were not explicitly detailed in the CVE description, but typically involved malformed Shockwave files or web content that would trigger the vulnerable code path during content rendering or processing. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through web browsers or other applications that integrate Shockwave Player functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability was significant as it affected users who had older versions of Adobe Shockwave Player installed on their systems. The vulnerability could be exploited through web-based attacks where users would inadvertently visit compromised websites or click on malicious links that delivered Shockwave content. The potential for remote code execution meant that attackers could gain full control over affected systems, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or further network infiltration. Organizations relying on Shockwave Player for business applications or content delivery were particularly at risk, as the vulnerability could be exploited through legitimate business processes.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily centered on immediate software updates and patches provided by Adobe. Users and organizations were strongly advised to upgrade to Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.5.7.609 or later, which contained fixes for the memory corruption issues. System administrators should have implemented network-level protections such as content filtering and web application firewalls to prevent access to known malicious Shockwave content. The vulnerability also highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date multimedia plugins and following security best practices for software maintenance. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability would map to techniques involving exploitation of software vulnerabilities and privilege escalation, with potential use of the T1203 tactic for legitimate access and T1059 for command execution once the initial compromise occurred. Organizations should have implemented comprehensive patch management processes and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in their software environments.