CVE-2011-2449 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
The TextXtra module in Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.6.3.633 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2449 represents a critical security flaw within Adobe Shockwave Player's TextXtra module, affecting versions prior to 11.6.3.633. This module serves as a component within the Shockwave Player framework that handles text rendering and manipulation, making it a potential attack surface for malicious actors seeking to exploit memory corruption issues. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description indicate that the vulnerability could be triggered through various means including malformed content, specific text processing sequences, or improper handling of user-supplied data within the TextXtra module. Such vulnerabilities in multimedia players are particularly dangerous as they can be exploited through web-based attacks, where users might inadvertently encounter malicious content while browsing the internet.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from memory corruption issues that occur within the TextXtra module's processing routines. Memory corruption vulnerabilities typically arise when software fails to properly validate input data or manage memory allocation and deallocation processes. In this context, the TextXtra module likely processes text data in ways that do not adequately protect against buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management errors. These flaws can be exploited by attackers who craft malicious content designed to trigger specific memory corruption patterns that lead to arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The vulnerability's classification as potentially enabling arbitrary code execution places it within the realm of severe security risks that could allow full system compromise if exploited successfully.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-2449 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass potential full system compromise. When exploited, this vulnerability could enable attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the Shockwave Player, potentially leading to unauthorized system access, data theft, or further lateral movement within network environments. The widespread deployment of Adobe Shockwave Player across various platforms and applications meant that this vulnerability could affect numerous users and organizations, particularly those with older versions of the software installed. The memory corruption nature of the flaw also means that exploitation could result in unpredictable system behavior, making detection and remediation more challenging for security professionals.
Organizations and users should prioritize immediate remediation through the installation of Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.6.3.633 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Security administrators should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all systems running vulnerable versions of the software and implement mandatory update policies. Additionally, network security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can provide additional layers of protection by blocking access to known malicious content. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and may also relate to CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write conditions, both of which are fundamental memory safety issues commonly exploited in privilege escalation attacks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged during the execution phase of an attack lifecycle, potentially supporting techniques such as command and script interpreter execution and process injection, making it a significant concern for enterprise security teams.