CVE-2013-3359 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Shockwave Player before 12.0.4.144 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-3360.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2021
Adobe Shockwave Player version 12.0.4.144 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-2013-3360 and demonstrates the inherent risks associated with multimedia player software that processes untrusted content. The flaw exists within the player's handling of specific Shockwave content formats, where improper memory management allows attackers to manipulate heap memory structures through crafted malicious content. Such vulnerabilities typically arise from insufficient input validation and bounds checking mechanisms within the player's parsing routines. The memory corruption occurs when the application attempts to process malformed Shockwave files that contain specially crafted data structures designed to overwrite memory regions beyond intended boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, both of which are common in multimedia processing libraries where buffer management is critical. The attack scenario involves an attacker hosting malicious Shockwave content on a web server or delivering it through email attachments, where users who have Shockwave Player installed will automatically execute the content when viewed in a web browser or media player environment. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution as it can also lead to complete system compromise, especially when combined with other exploitation techniques such as privilege escalation or browser-based attacks. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors on affected systems. The vulnerability affects users across multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms where Shockwave Player is installed. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries exploit software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Shockwave Player was widely distributed and used for multimedia content on websites, making it a prime target for exploitation. Organizations should consider implementing network-based protections such as content filtering and web application firewalls to prevent access to malicious Shockwave content. The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate patching of Shockwave Player to version 12.0.4.144 or later, which includes memory safety improvements and enhanced input validation mechanisms. System administrators should also consider disabling Shockwave Player functionality in web browsers and implementing strict access controls for Shockwave content delivery. Additionally, regular security assessments of multimedia content and browser plugins should be conducted to identify potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by threat actors. The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in securing multimedia frameworks and highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software libraries to prevent exploitation of known memory corruption flaws.