CVE-2010-4192 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.5.9.620 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a Director movie with a crafted 3D Assets 0xFFFFFF88 type record that triggers an incorrect memory allocation, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-0555, CVE-2010-4093, CVE-2010-4187, CVE-2010-4190, CVE-2010-4191, and CVE-2010-4306.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2025
Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.5.9.620 and earlier contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution or denial of service when processing specially crafted Director movies. This vulnerability specifically affects the handling of 3D Assets 0xFFFFFF88 type records within Director movie files, where an incorrect memory allocation occurs during processing. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and memory management when parsing these particular record types, creating a condition where attacker-controlled data can manipulate memory allocation parameters. This vulnerability operates through a distinct code path compared to other known Shockwave vulnerabilities, making it particularly challenging to detect and mitigate. The memory corruption occurs during the parsing phase when the player encounters the malformed 3D Assets record, leading to unpredictable memory behavior that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application. The vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow under CWE-122, with potential for privilege escalation and system compromise. According to ATT&CK framework, this represents a code execution technique through malicious media files, falling under the T1203 category for legitimate user execution. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service to full system compromise, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system control. Attackers can craft malicious Director movies containing the specific 3D Assets 0xFFFFFF88 record type to trigger this vulnerability. The exploitability is enhanced by the fact that Shockwave Player is commonly installed on end-user systems and often automatically executes content from web browsers or email attachments. The vulnerability requires no special privileges to exploit and can be delivered through various attack vectors including web-based delivery, email attachments, or malicious websites. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching to version 11.5.9.620 or later, as this represents a critical security risk. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can provide temporary mitigation while patches are deployed. Security monitoring should focus on detecting attempts to load Shockwave content from untrusted sources, particularly Director movies containing unusual 3D asset record structures. The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing risks associated with multimedia player software and highlights the importance of regular security updates for third-party plugins and applications. This flaw specifically impacts the memory management subsystem of Shockwave Player, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently encounter untrusted web content or email attachments containing multimedia files.