CVE-2012-0771 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
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-2012-0759.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2020
Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.6.4.634 and earlier contains a memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution or denial of service attacks through unspecified attack vectors. This vulnerability represents a distinct issue from CVE-2012-0759 and demonstrates the dangerous nature of memory corruption flaws in multimedia player software. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of data structures within the Shockwave Player component, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected user. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack paths may exist, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for security professionals as the exact exploitation techniques remain undisclosed. Such memory corruption vulnerabilities typically fall under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, or CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write conditions, both of which are common in multimedia processing components. The attack surface for this vulnerability extends to any user who interacts with Shockwave content, whether through web browsers, desktop applications, or embedded media players, creating widespread potential impact across various deployment scenarios. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers legitimate user privileges to execute malicious code, and T1059, describing command and scripting interpreters used for execution. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability allows for arbitrary code execution, making it particularly dangerous as it could enable attackers to install malware, steal data, or establish persistent access to compromised systems. The vulnerability's classification as a denial of service vector means that even if code execution is not achieved, attackers could still disrupt service availability through memory corruption attacks that crash the application or system. Organizations running affected versions of Shockwave Player should prioritize immediate patching to prevent exploitation, as these types of vulnerabilities often become public before official patches are released, creating a window of opportunity for malicious actors. The nature of the vulnerability indicates that it likely stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices within the Shockwave Player's parsing routines for multimedia content, highlighting the need for robust defensive coding practices in multimedia processing software. The lack of specific vector details in the CVE description suggests that multiple attack scenarios may be possible, including manipulation of Shockwave files, web-based content, or embedded multimedia elements within larger applications, making comprehensive mitigation challenging without detailed forensic analysis of exploitation attempts. This vulnerability exemplifies the risks associated with legacy multimedia player software and underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for all installed software components, particularly those handling untrusted input from web sources. The attack scenario would typically involve an attacker hosting malicious Shockwave content on a web server or embedding it within a phishing email or malicious website, where users would inadvertently trigger the vulnerability upon interaction with the content, leading to potential system compromise or service disruption.