CVE-2010-4307 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.5.9.620 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2021
Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.5.9.620 and earlier contained a critical buffer overflow vulnerability that could be exploited to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. This vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient boundary checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw existed in the player's handling of malformed data structures within Shockwave content, specifically in how it processed certain multimedia elements and script commands. Attackers could craft malicious Shockwave files or web content that would trigger the buffer overflow when the vulnerable player attempted to parse the malicious input. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it could be exploited through web browsers or other applications that embedded the Shockwave player component, making it accessible via standard web browsing activities. The buffer overflow occurred when the player allocated insufficient memory for processing certain data elements, allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory regions including return addresses and function pointers. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation would enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the vulnerable application. The impact of this vulnerability extended beyond simple code execution, as it could potentially allow attackers to bypass security controls, escalate privileges, or establish persistent access to compromised systems. The vulnerability was classified as critical due to its ease of exploitation and the widespread use of Shockwave Player across enterprise and consumer environments. Organizations running affected versions of the software faced significant risk of compromise, as the attack surface included web servers, email clients, and desktop applications that could render Shockwave content. The exploitation required minimal user interaction, often only visiting a malicious website or opening a compromised email attachment containing Shockwave content. This vulnerability demonstrated the inherent risks associated with rich media players and their complex parsing mechanisms that could be leveraged for remote code execution. Security researchers noted that the vulnerability was particularly concerning because it affected not just the standalone player but also integrated components within web browsers and other software platforms that utilized Shockwave technology. The flaw highlighted the importance of keeping multimedia plugins updated and implementing robust security measures such as sandboxing and privilege separation to limit the potential damage from such exploits. Organizations needed to prioritize patch management for Shockwave Player and consider alternative multimedia formats that were less prone to such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also underscored the need for comprehensive application security testing and the importance of validating all user input to prevent buffer overflow conditions that could lead to arbitrary code execution. Microsoft's security advisory and other industry publications recommended immediate deployment of patches and implementation of additional security controls to protect against this and similar vulnerabilities in multimedia applications. The incident served as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in securing multimedia plugins and the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all system components.