CVE-2012-2045 in Shockwave
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Shockwave Player before 11.6.6.636 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2012-2043, CVE-2012-2044, CVE-2012-2046, and CVE-2012-2047.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2021
Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.6.6.636 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 related issues CVE-2012-2043 through CVE-2012-2047, indicating that multiple memory corruption vulnerabilities exist within the Shockwave Player codebase. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of data structures during Shockwave file processing, particularly when parsing malformed or specially crafted content that triggers buffer overflows or heap corruption conditions. Attackers can exploit this weakness by delivering malicious Shockwave content through web browsers or desktop applications that utilize the Shockwave Player plugin, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected user. The memory corruption occurs during the parsing of Shockwave multimedia files, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute malicious code. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and CWE-125, out-of-bounds read, which are common in multimedia processing libraries. The attack surface is broad as Shockwave Player was widely distributed across multiple operating systems including windows and macos platforms, making it a prime target for exploitation. The impact of successful exploitation can range from complete system compromise to denial of service conditions where the application crashes or becomes unresponsive. Organizations running vulnerable versions of Shockwave Player face significant risk as this vulnerability can be leveraged in drive-by download attacks or through social engineering campaigns that trick users into viewing malicious content. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires user interaction such as visiting a malicious website or opening a malicious file, making it less automated but still highly dangerous due to the privilege escalation potential. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for exploitation for execution, as attackers can leverage the memory corruption to execute arbitrary commands. The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate patching to Adobe Shockwave Player version 11.6.6.636 or later, which addresses the memory corruption issues through improved input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should implement browser security policies that disable Shockwave content by default, restrict plugin execution, and deploy network monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider disabling Shockwave Player entirely on systems where it is not required, as the plugin has been deprecated and is no longer supported by Adobe. Regular security updates and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify other potentially vulnerable components that may share similar memory handling patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the persistent risks associated with legacy multimedia plugins that continue to receive limited security updates, highlighting the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and phasing out outdated technologies that present ongoing security risks.