CVE-2012-2046 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-2012-2045, 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 other related CVEs affecting the same software family, indicating that multiple memory corruption issues exist within the Shockwave Player codebase. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of data structures during media processing, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents through crafted Shockwave content. The memory corruption occurs when the player processes malformed or specially constructed Shockwave files that trigger buffer overflows or heap corruption conditions. These conditions can be exploited by remote attackers who deliver malicious Shockwave content through web browsers or other applications that invoke the Shockwave Player component. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows for arbitrary code execution within the context of the user's privileges, potentially enabling full system compromise if the user has administrative rights. Attackers can leverage this flaw by hosting malicious Shockwave content on compromised websites or by delivering it through email attachments or other social engineering methods. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service as the memory corruption can be systematically exploited to overwrite critical memory regions, potentially leading to privilege escalation or complete system takeover. According to the CWE taxonomy, this vulnerability maps to CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, both of which are classified as critical memory safety issues. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a vulnerability exploitation technique under T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution, where attackers leverage application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, as the vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild. The recommended mitigation strategy includes disabling Shockwave Player functionality in web browsers, implementing network-based controls to block Shockwave content, and conducting comprehensive security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized Shockwave Player execution and establish monitoring procedures to detect anomalous memory access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Given the nature of memory corruption vulnerabilities, regular system updates and security patches remain the most effective defense mechanism against this and similar threats. The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges with legacy multimedia player components that continue to receive limited security support, highlighting the importance of migrating away from deprecated technologies to more secure modern alternatives.