CVE-2010-4085 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
dirapi.dll in Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.5.9.615 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2010-2581, CVE-2010-4084, CVE-2010-4086, and CVE-2010-4088.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2021
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 represents a distinct threat vector from other related CVEs in the same year, indicating that attackers can leverage this flaw to achieve arbitrary code execution or induce denial of service conditions through unspecified attack methods. The vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within the Shockwave Player's directory API functionality, which processes various file operations and directory navigation tasks. When exploited, the memory corruption allows malicious actors to overwrite critical memory locations or manipulate program execution flow, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The flaw exists in the way the dirapi.dll library manages memory allocations and deallocations during normal operation, creating opportunities for attackers to craft malicious inputs that trigger buffer overflows or other memory-related issues. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because Shockwave Player was widely distributed and used across enterprise environments, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking persistent access to systems. The attack surface is expanded by the fact that Shockwave content is often embedded in web pages or downloaded as part of larger software packages, providing multiple vectors for exploitation. Security researchers have classified this issue as a memory corruption vulnerability that aligns with common attack patterns described in the attack tree model, where memory corruption serves as a foundational technique for privilege escalation and persistent compromise. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service as it can be leveraged to execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected user. Organizations running older versions of Shockwave Player face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where users have the ability to browse untrusted websites or download content from unknown sources. The vulnerability's presence in a widely deployed plugin means that exploitation can occur across multiple platforms and operating systems that support Shockwave functionality. Based on industry standards and attack frameworks such as those referenced in the MITRE ATT&CK matrix, this vulnerability would be categorized under memory corruption techniques and could potentially be used as a stepping stone for lateral movement within compromised networks. The specific nature of the flaw in dirapi.dll suggests that it may involve improper bounds checking or unsafe memory operations that could be exploited through crafted Shockwave content or malformed directory references. This vulnerability highlights the importance of keeping multimedia plugins up to date and demonstrates how legacy software components can pose significant security risks when not properly maintained. The attack vectors for this vulnerability likely include web-based exploitation where users visit compromised websites or download malicious Shockwave content, potentially leading to remote code execution on targeted systems. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems and implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability's complexity and potential for abuse make it a high-priority security concern that requires immediate attention. The lack of specific details about the exact attack vectors in the CVE description indicates that this vulnerability may have multiple exploitation paths, making comprehensive defense measures essential. Security teams should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader threat hunting activities and ensure that their incident response procedures include detection and remediation strategies for Shockwave-related exploits. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue aligns with common patterns seen in browser and plugin-based exploits, where attackers target components that handle user input or file processing operations.