CVE-2011-2108 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.6.0.626 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, related to a "design flaw."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2021
Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.6.0.626 and earlier contained a critical design flaw that enabled remote code execution attacks through unspecified vectors within the player's processing mechanisms. This vulnerability exploited fundamental architectural weaknesses in how the Shockwave Player handled certain data inputs and memory operations, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code that would execute with the privileges of the affected user. The design flaw specifically manifested in the player's failure to properly validate and sanitize input data streams, particularly those containing embedded multimedia content or script elements that could be manipulated to trigger buffer overflows or memory corruption conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extended beyond simple code execution to encompass complete system compromise when users encountered malicious Shockwave content. Attackers could craft specially designed Shockwave files or web pages that would automatically trigger the vulnerable code path when opened in the affected player version. This threat model aligned with attack patterns documented in the mitre attack framework under technique T1203 for exploitation of remote services and T1059 for command and script injection. The vulnerability's classification as a design flaw rather than a simple coding error indicated that the fundamental architecture of the player's content handling was inherently insecure, making it difficult to patch with simple code modifications.
Security researchers identified that the flaw existed in the player's multimedia processing pipeline where it handled various file formats and embedded scripting elements. The vulnerability's unspecified nature suggested that multiple attack vectors could be exploited, potentially including malformed movie files, corrupted data streams, or specially crafted web content that would cause the player to execute malicious code. This design weakness created a persistent security risk across all affected versions, as the fundamental flaw was present in the core processing architecture rather than being isolated to specific functions. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because Shockwave Player was widely distributed and frequently used for interactive web content, making exploitation likely across a broad user base.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2108 required immediate patching of affected systems with Adobe's security update 11.6.0.626 or later versions that addressed the underlying design flaw. Organizations should have implemented network-based controls to block Shockwave content from untrusted sources and considered disabling Shockwave Player entirely where it was not essential for business operations. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-119, which covers "Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer," highlighted the need for proper memory management and input validation practices. Security teams needed to monitor for exploitation attempts and implement endpoint protection measures that could detect and prevent execution of malicious Shockwave content. The incident underscored the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and the risks associated with legacy multimedia players that had not received proper security updates over extended periods.