CVE-2011-2419 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
IML32.dll in Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.6.1.629 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2021
Adobe Shockwave Player contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability in the IML32.dll component that affects versions prior to 11.6.1.629. This vulnerability represents a severe security flaw that can be exploited by remote attackers to gain unauthorized code execution or induce denial of service conditions on affected systems. The unspecified vectors suggest that the memory corruption occurs through multiple potential attack paths within the Shockwave Player's processing mechanisms. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption flaws that are commonly classified as CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. These memory corruption issues typically arise from inadequate input validation and buffer overflow conditions that allow attackers to manipulate memory layouts and execute malicious code. The attack surface for this vulnerability extends across various Shockwave content delivery scenarios including web browsers, desktop applications, and embedded media players that utilize the affected IML32.dll library. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to enterprise environments where Shockwave Player is commonly deployed for multimedia content delivery and interactive applications. The potential for remote code execution makes this a particularly dangerous flaw that could enable attackers to establish persistent access to compromised systems, escalate privileges, and move laterally within network environments. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be leveraged under techniques such as T1059 for command execution and T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation. The memory corruption nature of the flaw suggests that attackers might employ techniques like stack smashing or heap corruption to overwrite critical memory segments and redirect program execution flow. Organizations running affected versions of Shockwave Player should prioritize immediate patching to mitigate the risk of exploitation, as the vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild. The remediation process requires updating to Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.6.1.629 or later, which includes memory safety improvements and input validation enhancements. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and application whitelisting policies to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious network traffic patterns and anomalous system behavior can help detect exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected software across their infrastructure, particularly in environments where legacy multimedia applications are still in use. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date multimedia plugins and the risks associated with running outdated software components that may contain unpatched security flaws. Organizations should establish robust patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates and reduce exposure windows for known vulnerabilities. The widespread deployment of Shockwave Player in enterprise environments makes this vulnerability particularly concerning, as it could provide attackers with a vector for accessing sensitive corporate data and systems.