CVE-2010-2581 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
dirapi.dll in Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.5.9.615 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a Director file containing a crafted pamm chunk with an invalid (1) size and (2) number of sub-chunks, a different vulnerability than CVE-2010-4084, CVE-2010-4085, CVE-2010-4086, and CVE-2010-4088.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2021
Adobe Shockwave Player contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability in the dirapi.dll component that affects versions prior to 11.5.9.615. This vulnerability specifically targets the parsing of Director files and occurs when processing a crafted pamm chunk with malformed parameters. The flaw manifests when the software encounters a pamm chunk with an invalid size field and an incorrect number of sub-chunks, creating a condition where memory allocation and processing become unstable. The vulnerability operates through a classic buffer overflow scenario where improper input validation allows attackers to manipulate memory structures and potentially execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a pattern that aligns with common software security weaknesses categorized under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. Attackers can craft malicious Director files that contain specially constructed pamm chunks designed to trigger memory corruption when processed by the Shockwave Player. This type of vulnerability represents a significant risk because it can be delivered through web-based attacks or malicious file downloads, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Shockwave Player may be installed on numerous endpoints. The memory corruption can lead to either arbitrary code execution or denial of service conditions, both of which represent serious security implications for affected organizations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a substantial risk for organizations that continue to use older versions of Adobe Shockwave Player, as the software remains widely deployed in legacy systems and corporate environments. The attack surface is expanded by the fact that Shockwave Player is often installed as part of larger software packages or enterprise applications, making it difficult to track and remediate completely. Organizations may be unaware of Shockwave Player installations on their networks, creating blind spots for security monitoring and incident response. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for execution, indicates that successful exploitation could lead to persistent access or privilege escalation within affected systems.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Shockwave Player installations to version 11.5.9.615 or later, as this represents the definitive fix for the memory corruption issue. Network-based defenses should include blocking or filtering Director file types (.dir, .dcr) at perimeter defenses and implementing strict content validation for web-based file downloads. Security teams should also consider disabling Shockwave Player functionality entirely if it is not required for business operations, as this eliminates the attack surface completely. Endpoint protection solutions should be configured to monitor for unusual memory access patterns and process behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify any remaining installations of older Shockwave Player versions that may not have been discovered through standard inventory processes, ensuring comprehensive remediation across all affected systems.