CVE-2014-0505 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Shockwave Player before 12.1.0.150 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/08/2026
Adobe Shockwave Player version 12.1.0.150 and earlier contains a critical memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions. This vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption flaws that can be exploited through unspecified attack vectors within the Shockwave Player runtime environment. The flaw exists in how the player handles certain data structures during processing, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate memory contents and potentially gain unauthorized system access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with heap-based buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions within the Shockwave Player's multimedia processing components. These memory corruption issues typically arise when the player fails to properly validate input data or maintain proper memory boundaries during content rendering. Attackers can craft specially malformed Shockwave content or manipulate existing files to trigger the vulnerable code paths, leading to unpredictable memory behavior that can be leveraged for code execution. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests multiple potential entry points within the player's processing pipeline, including but not limited to movie parsing, asset handling, or script execution components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation to encompass significant security risks for end-user systems. Successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected user. This poses severe risks in enterprise environments where Shockwave Player may be installed on critical systems or used to process untrusted content from web applications. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also organizations that rely on Shockwave content delivery, creating potential for widespread compromise through targeted attacks against vulnerable installations.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through the application of Adobe's security patches that address this memory corruption vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy involves updating to Adobe Shockwave Player version 12.1.0.150 or later, which incorporates memory safety improvements and input validation controls. Security teams should also implement network segmentation and content filtering to prevent access to potentially malicious Shockwave content. Additionally, monitoring for exploitation attempts through network intrusion detection systems can help identify attempts to leverage this vulnerability. The vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack tree framework and represents a significant risk that requires immediate attention to prevent potential exploitation by threat actors. Organizations should also consider decommissioning Shockwave Player installations where possible, as the platform has limited usage and represents an unnecessary attack surface for modern computing environments.