CVE-2010-2874 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.5.8.612 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors that trigger memory corruption. NOTE: due to conflicting information and use of the same CVE identifier by the vendor, ZDI, and TippingPoint, it is not clear whether this issue is related to use of an uninitialized pointer, an incorrect pointer offset calculation, or both.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2021
Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.5.8.612 and earlier contains an unspecified memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution through unknown attack vectors. This vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues that can lead to arbitrary code execution when exploited by remote attackers. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability stems from conflicting reports regarding the exact technical mechanism, with vendors and security researchers providing different interpretations of the root cause. The ambiguity surrounding whether this vulnerability involves uninitialized pointer usage, incorrect pointer offset calculations, or both creates challenges for precise threat modeling and remediation planning.
The technical flaw represents a classic memory corruption vulnerability that typically occurs when software manipulates memory addresses without proper validation or initialization checks. Memory corruption vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited to overwrite critical program memory locations, potentially allowing attackers to inject and execute malicious code within the victim's system context. The vulnerability's classification aligns with common CWE entries related to memory safety issues such as CWE-125 for out-of-bounds read and CWE-787 for out-of-bounds write, though the exact mapping depends on the specific implementation details that remain unclear due to the conflicting reports.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to users of older Shockwave Player versions who may be exposed to remote exploitation without their knowledge. The attack surface is broad since Shockwave content is often embedded in web pages, making it accessible through standard web browsing activities. Successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable software. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where users may unknowingly browse to compromised websites containing malicious Shockwave content.
The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability align with the tactics, techniques, and procedures outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the execution and privilege escalation domains. Attackers would likely leverage this vulnerability through social engineering campaigns targeting users to visit compromised websites or download malicious content that triggers the memory corruption. The exploitation process would typically involve crafting specially formatted Shockwave content designed to cause the memory corruption when processed by the vulnerable player. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through patch management and consider implementing network-based controls such as web application firewalls to prevent access to known malicious content.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment to Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.5.8.612 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to potentially compromised systems and consider disabling Shockwave Player entirely if it is not required for business operations. Additional defensive measures include deploying endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify anomalous behavior patterns associated with memory corruption exploitation attempts, as well as maintaining comprehensive network monitoring to detect suspicious traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation activity. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar issues in other Adobe products and third-party software components that may be at risk.