CVE-2010-4087 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
IML32.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 a .dir file with a crafted mmap record containing an invalid length of a VSWV entry, a different vulnerability than CVE-2010-4089.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2021
Adobe Shockwave Player contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability in the IML32.dll component that affects versions prior to 11.5.9.615. This vulnerability specifically manifests when processing .dir files with crafted mmap records that contain invalid length specifications for VSWV entries. The flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition where improper input validation allows malicious data to overwrite adjacent memory regions, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the Shockwave Player's file parsing routine. When the player encounters a malformed .dir file containing a crafted mmap record, the application fails to properly validate the length field associated with VSWV entries before attempting to allocate memory or process the data. This validation failure creates a condition where an attacker can manipulate the memory layout to overwrite critical program structures or execute malicious code within the context of the running Shockwave Player process.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to enterprise environments where Shockwave Player remains installed, as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including email attachments, malicious websites, or compromised web applications. The memory corruption aspect means that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise or denial of service conditions that disrupt legitimate user activities. Security researchers have noted that the vulnerability's exploitation requires user interaction with malicious content, typically through web browsing or file execution scenarios.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, both of which fall under the broader category of memory safety issues that represent common attack surfaces in multimedia and plugin-based applications. The attack pattern corresponds to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Shockwave Player installations and implement network-based controls to prevent access to known malicious domains or files that could trigger this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies should include mandatory patch deployment for all affected systems, implementation of application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized Shockwave Player execution, and network monitoring to detect suspicious file access patterns. Security teams should also consider disabling Shockwave Player functionality in enterprise environments where it is not strictly required, as the vulnerability landscape for legacy multimedia plugins continues to evolve. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify potential exploitation vectors and ensure that remediation efforts remain effective against emerging threats targeting similar memory corruption vulnerabilities in multimedia frameworks.