CVE-2011-2118 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
The FLV ASSET Xtra component in Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.6.0.626 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, related to an "input validation vulnerability."
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2118 represents a critical input validation flaw within the FLV ASSET Xtra component of Adobe Shockwave Player versions prior to 11.6.0.626. This component is responsible for handling Flash Video (FLV) media assets within the Shockwave Player environment, making it a prime target for exploitation by malicious actors seeking to leverage multimedia content as an attack vector. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description indicate that the vulnerability can be triggered through multiple pathways within the input processing logic, suggesting a fundamental weakness in how the component validates and processes external media data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the realm of code execution exploits, where attackers can manipulate input data to cause the Shockwave Player to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application. This type of vulnerability typically arises from insufficient validation of user-supplied data or improper handling of memory operations during media processing. The FLV ASSET Xtra component likely processes various FLV file structures and metadata without adequate bounds checking or sanitization, allowing attackers to craft specially malformed media content that triggers buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other exploitable conditions. Such vulnerabilities are classified under CWE-125 as "Out-of-bounds Read" or CWE-787 as "Out-of-bounds Write" when they result from improper input validation, representing common attack surfaces in multimedia processing components.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-2118 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass potential system compromise and data theft capabilities. When successfully exploited, this vulnerability enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems running vulnerable Shockwave Player versions, potentially leading to complete system control, data exfiltration, or deployment of additional malware. The widespread use of Shockwave Player across enterprise environments and the prevalence of FLV media content on web applications made this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could be exploited through standard web browsing activities. Organizations using Shockwave Player for multimedia presentations, training materials, or web-based applications faced significant risk, as users could be compromised simply by viewing maliciously crafted FLV content. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 as "Exploitation for Client Execution" and T1059 as "Command and Scripting Interpreter," demonstrating how multimedia components can serve as initial access vectors in broader attack campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2118 centered primarily on immediate patch deployment, as Adobe released Shockwave Player version 11.6.0.626 to address the vulnerability. Organizations should have implemented comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all systems running Shockwave Player received the security update promptly. Additional defensive measures included disabling Shockwave Player functionality in web browsers where possible, implementing network-based filtering to block suspicious FLV content, and conducting thorough security assessments of all Shockwave Player usage within enterprise environments. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of maintaining up-to-date multimedia plugins and demonstrated how seemingly benign components like media players can serve as critical attack entry points in modern threat landscapes. Organizations should have also considered implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted Shockwave content and established monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability underscored the broader security principle that multimedia processing components require rigorous input validation and should be treated with the same security scrutiny as core system functions.