CVE-2011-0557 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.5.9.620 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a Director movie with a large count value in 3D assets type 0xFFFFFF45 record, which triggers a "faulty allocation" and memory corruption.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2025
Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.5.9.620 and earlier contained a critical integer overflow vulnerability that enabled remote code execution through malformed 3D asset records within Director movies. This vulnerability resides in the processing of 3D assets type 0xFFFFFF45 records where the software fails to properly validate the count field value, allowing attackers to specify an excessively large integer that overflows the allocated memory space. The flaw manifests when the application attempts to allocate memory based on this malformed count value, resulting in a faulty allocation that corrupts adjacent memory regions. This memory corruption creates exploitable conditions where attacker-controlled data can overwrite critical program structures or execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, and represents a classic buffer overflow scenario where integer arithmetic produces a value that exceeds the maximum representable integer, leading to memory corruption. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables remote code execution through a media player application. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation since Shockwave Player often runs with user privileges and can be triggered through web browsing or email attachments, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices where the application does not adequately check the bounds of integer values before using them in memory allocation calculations, creating a direct path for attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute malicious payloads.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires crafting a specially designed Director movie file containing the malformed 3D assets record with an oversized count value. When the vulnerable Shockwave Player processes this file, the integer overflow occurs during the memory allocation phase, causing the application to allocate insufficient memory while attempting to process the legitimate 3D asset data. This misalignment in memory allocation creates heap corruption that can be leveraged by attackers to overwrite function pointers, return addresses, or other critical program data structures. The specific 3D assets type 0xFFFFFF45 record format is significant because it represents a legitimate data structure within the Shockwave file format, making the attack more convincing and harder to detect by security systems that might not immediately flag such valid-looking but malformed content. The vulnerability affects a wide range of systems since Shockwave Player was widely distributed across multiple operating systems including Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux platforms, though the attack surface was primarily concentrated in Windows environments where the application was most commonly deployed. Security researchers noted that the integer overflow occurred in a code path that was frequently executed during normal Shockwave movie playback, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could be triggered through normal user activities such as visiting compromised websites or opening malicious email attachments containing Shockwave content. The memory corruption pattern typically results in stack smashing or heap corruption that can be reliably exploited using Return-Oriented Programming (ROP) techniques or direct code injection methods, depending on the target system's memory protection mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-0557 require immediate patch deployment for Adobe Shockwave Player versions prior to 11.5.9.620, as the vendor released a security update that properly validates the count field values in 3D asset records. Organizations should implement network-based controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems that can detect and block Shockwave content, particularly when it originates from untrusted sources. Endpoint protection measures including application whitelisting and sandboxing of Shockwave Player processes can significantly reduce the attack surface and limit potential exploitation. System administrators should disable Shockwave Player in web browsers and remove it from systems where it is not essential for business operations, as the attack vector primarily involves web-based delivery methods. Additionally, security monitoring should include detection of unusual memory allocation patterns and heap corruption indicators that might suggest exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper integer overflow protection in media processing libraries and demonstrates why applications handling untrusted multimedia content must implement robust input validation and bounds checking. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training to educate users about the risks of opening untrusted Shockwave content, as social engineering remains a common initial vector for exploiting such vulnerabilities. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should include evaluation of legacy multimedia applications that may contain similar integer overflow vulnerabilities in their codebases, as these systems often receive less security attention despite their continued use in enterprise environments. The incident underscores the need for comprehensive security testing during software development phases, particularly for applications that process complex file formats with multiple data structures that could be manipulated to cause memory corruption through integer arithmetic errors.