CVE-2011-2126 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.6.0.626 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2025
Adobe Shockwave Player versions prior to 11.6.0.626 contained a critical buffer overflow vulnerability that enabled remote code execution attacks through unspecified vectors. This vulnerability resides in the player's handling of malformed data structures during content parsing, creating a condition where attacker-controlled input could overwrite adjacent memory regions beyond the bounds of allocated buffers. The flaw represents a classic stack-based buffer overflow scenario that violates fundamental memory safety principles and provides attackers with the ability to inject and execute malicious code within the context of the vulnerable application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and memory management practices within the Shockwave Player runtime environment. When processing Shockwave content, the player fails to properly bounds-check data structures before copying them into fixed-size buffers, allowing attackers to craft specially malformed content that triggers the overflow condition. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which categorizes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation typically results in arbitrary code execution that can be leveraged for further system compromise. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially enable privilege escalation attacks when the player runs with elevated permissions.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe given Shockwave Player's widespread deployment across enterprise and consumer environments. Attackers could exploit this weakness through various delivery mechanisms including malicious websites, email attachments, or compromised web content that loads Shockwave files. The vulnerability's exploitation potential increases significantly due to Shockwave's integration with web browsers and its frequent use in corporate environments where security controls may be less stringent. Organizations running affected versions face substantial risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within networks where the player is installed. The vulnerability's presence in legacy Shockwave Player installations also creates persistent security gaps that can be exploited for extended periods.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch deployment to upgrade to Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.6.0.626 or later, which contains the necessary memory safety improvements and input validation controls. Network administrators should implement browser security policies that disable Shockwave content execution or restrict access to known malicious domains. Additional defensive measures include deploying application whitelisting solutions to prevent execution of untrusted Shockwave content, implementing web application firewalls to filter malicious requests, and conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all potentially affected systems. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions that can identify exploitation attempts through anomalous behavior patterns associated with buffer overflow attacks. The remediation process must include thorough testing of patched versions to ensure compatibility with existing Shockwave-based applications while maintaining security posture against this and related memory corruption vulnerabilities.