CVE-2015-6681 in Shockwave Player
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Shockwave Player before 12.2.0.162 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-6680.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2022
Adobe Shockwave Player version 12.2.0.162 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-2015-6680, indicating separate code paths or implementation flaws within the Shockwave Player runtime environment. The memory corruption flaw likely stems from inadequate input validation or buffer overflow conditions when processing Shockwave content, particularly in the handling of multimedia elements or scripting components within .dcr files. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious Shockwave content that, when loaded by an affected player version, triggers memory corruption through improper memory allocation, deallocation, or data manipulation. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue aligns with CWE-121, which covers stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. These types of vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user. The attack surface extends to any system running the vulnerable Shockwave Player version, including web browsers that embed the player or standalone applications that utilize Shockwave content. The exploitation process typically involves delivering malicious Shockwave content through compromised websites, email attachments, or malicious downloads, where the player automatically attempts to parse and execute the content. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and availability of affected systems, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access, escalate privileges, or cause system instability through denial of service conditions. The specific attack vectors remain undisclosed, which is common for zero-day vulnerabilities, but the memory corruption nature suggests that the attack likely targets memory management functions within the Shockwave runtime. The vulnerability is particularly concerning given Shockwave Player's widespread deployment across various operating systems and its integration into web browsers and desktop applications. Organizations using affected versions should prioritize immediate patching, as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without user interaction, making it a high-severity threat. The exploitation of such vulnerabilities falls under ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers "Exploitation for Client Execution" and T1059, which addresses "Command and Scripting Interpreter" as attackers may leverage the executed code to establish persistence or escalate privileges. This vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing security challenges associated with legacy multimedia players and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for all installed software components.
The memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Shockwave Player represents a critical security weakness that stems from improper handling of multimedia content and scripting elements within the player's runtime environment. The flaw manifests when the player processes specially crafted Shockwave files that contain malformed data structures or excessive memory allocations that lead to buffer overflows or heap corruption. These conditions can be triggered during normal content playback operations, making the attack surface particularly broad and difficult to defend against through traditional network-based security measures. The vulnerability's designation as a memory corruption issue places it within the scope of CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. The attack typically involves delivering malicious Shockwave content through web-based delivery methods, where the player automatically attempts to parse and execute the content without sufficient validation of input parameters. This process can result in arbitrary code execution at the privilege level of the user running the affected player, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The denial of service aspect of the vulnerability occurs when the memory corruption causes the player to crash or become unresponsive, disrupting legitimate user operations and potentially creating a persistent availability issue. The vulnerability's relationship to other security frameworks indicates that it represents a significant threat to enterprise environments where Shockwave content may be prevalent in legacy applications or training materials. The lack of specific attack vector details suggests that the vulnerability may be exploitable through multiple code paths, including direct memory manipulation or through indirect exploitation of related components within the Shockwave runtime. This broad attack surface makes the vulnerability particularly challenging to remediate without comprehensive patching of the affected software components. The vulnerability's potential for remote code execution places it in the category of critical threats that require immediate attention from security administrators and system administrators across all affected organizations. The exploitation of such vulnerabilities often involves the use of advanced persistent threat groups that leverage these weaknesses to establish footholds within target networks. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond immediate execution capabilities to include long-term system compromise and data exfiltration potential, making it a significant concern for enterprise security teams. Organizations should implement layered defense strategies including network segmentation, application whitelisting, and regular security assessments to mitigate the risk posed by this and similar vulnerabilities in legacy multimedia players.