CVE-2010-2870 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
DIRAPIX.dll in Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.5.8.612 does not properly validate a certain chunk size in the mmap chunk in a Director movie, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption) or execute arbitrary code via a crafted movie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2021
Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.5.8.612 and earlier contains a critical heap memory corruption vulnerability in the DIRAPIX.dll component that affects the processing of Director movie files. This vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of chunk size parameters within the mmap chunk structure, creating a condition where maliciously crafted Director movies can trigger buffer overflows or memory corruption during file parsing. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize the chunk size field before using it to allocate heap memory, allowing attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through web-based attacks where users unknowingly download and open malicious Shockwave content, making it a significant vector for remote code execution. This issue aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a classic memory corruption vulnerability that can lead to privilege escalation and system compromise. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service to full system compromise, as successful exploitation can allow attackers to execute malicious code on vulnerable systems. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Shockwave Player for multimedia content delivery, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted web content or where legacy Shockwave applications remain in use.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires attackers to craft a specially formatted Director movie file that contains malformed mmap chunk data with oversized chunk size values. When the Shockwave Player processes this malicious content, the application attempts to allocate heap memory based on the manipulated size parameter, resulting in memory corruption that can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory structures or inject executable code. The vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution threat because the attack can be initiated through web browsers or other applications that invoke Shockwave Player to render content. Security researchers have identified this as a heap-based buffer overflow that can be exploited through the use of controlled memory corruption techniques. The attack surface is broad since Shockwave Player was widely distributed and integrated into many web applications, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit legacy software vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing risks associated with maintaining legacy multimedia players and the importance of keeping such software updated to address known memory corruption flaws.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including disabling Shockwave Player plugins in web browsers, updating to Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.5.8.612 or later, and implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls to block malicious Shockwave content. System administrators should also consider removing Shockwave Player from systems where it is not required, as the software presents a persistent security risk due to its age and the difficulty of maintaining secure configurations. The vulnerability's exploitation potential makes it a high-priority target for threat actors, particularly in environments where legacy systems are still operational. Security monitoring should include detection of malicious Shockwave file patterns and unusual memory allocation behaviors that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify other legacy multimedia applications that may contain similar memory corruption vulnerabilities, as these often share common codebases and architectural patterns. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date multimedia software and the risks associated with supporting deprecated technologies in enterprise environments. The remediation process should also include user education to prevent accidental execution of malicious Shockwave content and regular security audits to ensure that outdated multimedia plugins are not inadvertently enabled in browser configurations.