CVE-2011-0318 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
Dirapi.dll in Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.6.0.626 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-0317, CVE-2011-0319, CVE-2011-0320, CVE-2011-0335, CVE-2011-2119, and CVE-2011-2122.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2021
Adobe Shockwave Player contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability in the dirapi.dll component that affects versions prior to 11.6.0.626. This vulnerability represents a distinct security flaw from several other related issues identified in the same timeframe, indicating a broader class of memory safety issues within the Shockwave runtime environment. The unspecified vectors through which attackers can exploit this vulnerability suggest multiple potential attack surfaces within the library's code execution paths. The memory corruption aspect implies that an attacker could manipulate heap or stack memory structures in ways that lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability. This type of vulnerability typically arises from insufficient bounds checking or improper memory management practices during the processing of malformed input data. The vulnerability falls under the category of software defects that can be exploited through buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption patterns that are commonly classified under CWE-119 and CWE-125. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations that continue to use older versions of Shockwave Player, as it can be leveraged to gain unauthorized system access or disrupt service availability. The attack scenario would likely involve tricking a user into opening a malicious Shockwave content file or visiting a compromised website that triggers the vulnerable code path in dirapi.dll. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious payloads with the privileges of the affected user, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may have elevated access rights. The memory corruption nature also means that the vulnerability could be used for denial of service attacks, where system resources are exhausted or corrupted, leading to application crashes or system instability that affects normal business operations. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw means that exploitation does not require local system access, making it particularly concerning for web-based attack scenarios. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through the installation of Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.6.0.626 or later, as this represents the first version that addresses this specific memory corruption issue. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and execution through malicious content, highlighting the need for comprehensive security controls including application whitelisting, web filtering, and user education about avoiding untrusted Shockwave content. Security teams should also implement monitoring for exploitation attempts and consider network-based detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. The presence of multiple related CVEs from the same period indicates that Adobe Shockwave Player suffered from a broader set of memory safety issues that required comprehensive code review and security hardening efforts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and the risks associated with legacy software platforms that continue to receive limited security support. The specific nature of the dirapi.dll component suggests that this vulnerability may be related to Shockwave's handling of specific file formats or protocols that are processed through this dynamic link library. Organizations should also consider the broader implications of continued Shockwave usage, given that Adobe officially discontinued Shockwave Player support in 2019, leaving these legacy vulnerabilities unpatched and increasingly risky to maintain in production environments. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue indicates that proper input validation and memory management practices were inadequate in the affected code sections, representing a fundamental security design flaw that required immediate attention. Security professionals should treat this vulnerability as a high-priority remediation target and consider conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially unpatched legacy software components that may present similar risks.