CVE-2012-2033 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.6.5.635 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2012-2029, CVE-2012-2030, CVE-2012-2031, and CVE-2012-2032.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2021
Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.6.5.635 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 security flaw from other related CVEs affecting the same product family, indicating that multiple memory corruption issues exist within the Shockwave Player codebase. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory operations during the processing of Shockwave content, which can be triggered when users open maliciously crafted Shockwave files or visit compromised websites hosting malicious content. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially designed Shockwave files that manipulate memory structures in unexpected ways, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution within the context of the user's session. The memory corruption occurs when the player fails to properly validate input data or manage memory allocation during content rendering processes, creating opportunities for attackers to overwrite critical memory locations or manipulate program execution flow.
The technical impact of this vulnerability aligns with common memory corruption patterns found in software applications, where improper input validation leads to buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions. This type of vulnerability typically manifests through CWE-119 which describes weaknesses in memory safety, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The attack surface extends to any user who opens Shockwave content, particularly when the player is set to automatically execute content or when users navigate to malicious websites that embed malicious Shockwave objects. The vulnerability affects systems running affected versions of Adobe Shockwave Player across multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms where the player is installed. Given that Shockwave was widely distributed and used for multimedia content delivery, the potential attack surface for this vulnerability was extensive, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with legacy systems still running older versions of the player.
Organizations and users should immediately update to Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.6.5.635 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as earlier versions remain susceptible to exploitation. System administrators should implement network segmentation and content filtering to prevent access to known malicious Shockwave content, while also monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of keeping multimedia plugins updated, as these components often have complex codebases that can contain numerous security flaws. Security teams should also consider disabling Shockwave Player in environments where it is not required, particularly in high-security environments where the attack surface needs to be minimized. Regular security assessments should include checking for outdated Shockwave installations, as this vulnerability represents a persistent risk for organizations that have not properly maintained their software updates. Additionally, incident response procedures should be updated to include detection of potential Shockwave-based attacks, with particular attention to memory corruption indicators and unusual process behavior that might suggest exploitation of this vulnerability.