CVE-2012-0766 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
The Shockwave 3D Asset component in Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.6.4.634 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2012-0757, CVE-2012-0760, CVE-2012-0761, CVE-2012-0762, CVE-2012-0763, and CVE-2012-0764.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0766 represents a critical security flaw within Adobe Shockwave Player's 3D Asset component that existed in versions prior to 11.6.4.634. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory corruption issues that have historically been among the most dangerous classes of software flaws due to their potential to enable remote code execution or system compromise. The affected component specifically handles Shockwave 3D assets, which are interactive multimedia content files that can contain complex 3D graphics and animations designed to run within web browsers through the Shockwave plugin. The vulnerability's significance is underscored by its distinction from several other related vulnerabilities including CVE-2012-0757 through CVE-2012-0764, indicating that this represents a unique code path or memory handling issue within the Shockwave Player's 3D asset processing functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption that occurs during the processing of Shockwave 3D assets, where attackers can craft malicious content that triggers improper memory handling within the Shockwave Player component. This memory corruption can manifest through various attack vectors that manipulate how the player allocates, accesses, or manages memory when processing 3D asset files. The flaw likely stems from insufficient bounds checking, improper input validation, or unsafe memory operations when parsing or rendering 3D content, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory locations or manipulate program execution flow. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, CWE-119: Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer, and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, all of which are fundamental memory safety issues that have been consistently exploited in web browser and plugin-based attack scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-0766 is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems or cause denial of service conditions that can render the affected systems unusable. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability could allow remote attackers to gain complete control over systems running vulnerable versions of Adobe Shockwave Player, potentially enabling them to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to compromised networks. The denial of service aspect of this vulnerability can result in system crashes, browser hangs, or complete application failures that disrupt legitimate user activities and can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond individual user systems to enterprise environments where Shockwave content might be embedded in corporate websites, training materials, or internal applications, making the potential impact much broader than initially apparent.
Organizations and users should implement immediate mitigation strategies to protect against exploitation of this vulnerability, with the most effective approach being the prompt installation of Adobe's security patches that address the specific memory corruption issues in the Shockwave Player 3D Asset component. System administrators should prioritize patch management processes to ensure all affected systems are updated, particularly those running older versions of Adobe Shockwave Player that remain in production environments. Additional mitigations include implementing network-based controls such as content filtering and web application firewalls to block access to potentially malicious Shockwave content, disabling the Shockwave Player plugin in web browsers where it is not required, and conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify systems that may still be running vulnerable versions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution and T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands on target systems through the compromised Shockwave Player component. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and the risks associated with legacy plugins that continue to be used in enterprise environments despite known security issues.