CVE-2010-2880 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
DIRAPI.dll in Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.5.8.612 does not properly parse .dir files, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or execute arbitrary code via a malformed file containing an invalid value, as demonstrated by a value at position 0x47 of a certain file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2021
Adobe Shockwave Player versions prior to 11.5.8.612 contain a critical vulnerability in the DIRAPI.dll component that stems from improper parsing of .dir files. This flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition where the application fails to validate input data from maliciously crafted .dir files, leading to potential memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application encounters an invalid value at position 0x47 within the file structure, which triggers an exploitable condition in the parsing routine.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds writes. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting specially formatted .dir files that contain malformed data at the specified offset, causing the Shockwave Player to improperly handle memory allocation and data processing. When the application attempts to parse these invalid values, it can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to stack corruption or heap-based memory issues that may be exploited to execute malicious code.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to enterprise environments where Shockwave Player remains installed, as it can be exploited through web-based attacks or malicious file downloads. The remote attack vector means that users can be compromised simply by viewing a malicious webpage or opening an infected file, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations with limited security controls. The denial of service aspect can also be leveraged to disrupt business operations, while the arbitrary code execution capability provides attackers with full system compromise potential.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate patch deployment for all affected Shockwave Player installations, as Adobe released version 11.5.8.612 to address this vulnerability. The mitigation strategy should include network-based protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious .dir file content, along with endpoint protection measures that monitor for suspicious file access patterns. Organizations should also implement user education programs to prevent accidental execution of malicious files, as the vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering attacks that trick users into opening compromised content. Additionally, system administrators should consider disabling Shockwave Player functionality entirely where possible, as the component has been deprecated and poses ongoing security risks despite patch availability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203, which covers Exploitation for Client Execution, and T1059, which covers Command and Scripting Interpreter, highlighting the multi-faceted attack surface this vulnerability presents.