CVE-2010-2875 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
Integer signedness error in Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.5.8.612 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or execute arbitrary code via a length value associated with the tSAC chunk in a Director movie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2875 represents a critical integer signedness error within Adobe Shockwave Player versions prior to 11.5.8.612. This flaw resides in the processing of tSAC chunks within Director movie files, creating a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate memory structures through carefully crafted length values. The issue stems from improper handling of signed versus unsigned integer types during the parsing of multimedia content, specifically affecting how the player interprets chunk length parameters in Shockwave movies. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption flaws that can lead to unpredictable behavior in software applications. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a widely deployed multimedia player that was commonly used in web browsers and standalone applications, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to exploit user systems through web-based attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the Shockwave Player's parser encountering a tSAC chunk with an invalid length value that triggers a signedness error during integer arithmetic operations. When the player processes this malformed chunk, the improper handling of signed integer values causes the application to allocate memory incorrectly or perform operations on invalid memory addresses. This misinterpretation of integer values can result in buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions that may be exploited to execute arbitrary code on the target system. The flaw demonstrates a classic software engineering issue where developers failed to properly validate integer inputs against expected ranges and signedness requirements, allowing malicious input to bypass normal validation checks. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-190, which addresses integer overflow and underflow conditions, and specifically relates to improper integer handling that can lead to memory corruption and code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to encompass full system compromise capabilities for remote attackers. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the Shockwave Player, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack surface is broad since Shockwave Player was commonly installed on Windows systems and supported various web browsers, making it accessible through standard web browsing activities. Attackers could deliver malicious Director movies through compromised websites, email attachments, or other vectors that prompt automatic execution of Shockwave content. The vulnerability's exploitation capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter execution, as successful exploitation would likely involve the execution of malicious code within the application context. Additionally, this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain leading to privilege escalation or lateral movement within compromised networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2875 primarily focus on immediate patch deployment and application of security updates from Adobe. Users should immediately update to Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.5.8.612 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to address the integer signedness error. Organizations should implement network-based controls to block or filter Shockwave content where possible, particularly in environments where the player is not essential for business operations. Security administrators should also consider disabling Shockwave Player plugins in web browsers to reduce attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and integer handling in software development, particularly in applications that process untrusted multimedia content. Organizations should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify systems running vulnerable versions of Shockwave Player and prioritize remediation efforts accordingly. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future, as this flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation errors can result in significant security risks.