Macromedia Flash SWF Denial of Service Vulnerability

BID:2162

Info

Macromedia Flash SWF Denial of Service Vulnerability

Bugtraq ID: 2162
Class: Failure to Handle Exceptional Conditions
CVE:
Remote: Yes
Local: No
Published: Dec 29 2000 12:00AM
Updated: Dec 29 2000 12:00AM
Credit: This vulnerability was first discovered by Neal Krawetz <[email protected]> in July of 2000, and announced via the Bugtraq mailing list on December 20, 2000.
Vulnerable: Macromedia Shockwave 8.0
- Apple Mac OS 9 9.0
- Debian Linux 2.2
- Mandriva Linux Mandrake 7.2
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP2
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP1
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP2
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP1
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP2
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP1
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
- Microsoft Windows 95 SR2
- Microsoft Windows 95
- Microsoft Windows 98
- Microsoft Windows 98SE
- Microsoft Windows ME
- Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP6a
- Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP6
- Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP5
- Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP4
- Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP3
- Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP2
- Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0 SP1
- Microsoft Windows NT Enterprise Server 4.0
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP6a
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP6
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP5
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP4
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP3
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP2
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 SP1
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP6a
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP6
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP5
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP4
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP3
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP2
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP1
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
- Microsoft Windows XP Home
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional
- Redhat Linux 6.0
- Slackware Linux 7.1
- Sun Solaris 7.0
- Sun Solaris 2.6
- SuSE Linux 7.0
Not Vulnerable:

Discussion

Macromedia Flash SWF Denial of Service Vulnerability

Macromedia Flash is a modular package designed to enhance web browsing. A problem exists in the package that could cause a user's browser to crash.

The problem is in the handling of complex data by the Shockwave Flash plugin. Shockwave Flash files normally contain data in the format "tag length data." Complex data in a shockwave flash file contains data in the form of "tag length (subtag1 sublength1 subdata1 "0")". The plugin is dependent upon the ending "0" to signal the end of data and return to the main body of the file. If the placement of the zero exists beyond the specified "length" or "sublength" declaration, or doesn't exist at all, a read buffer overflow will occur that can allow a site with malicious flash content to crash browsers.

It is also reported that this issue results due to a buffer overflow that may allow for the arbitrary execution of code, but this claim is yet unverified.

This problem makes it possible for a user with malicious intent to crash browsers, resulting in a Denial of Service.

Exploit / POC

Macromedia Flash SWF Denial of Service Vulnerability

nealk <[email protected]> has provided the following example exploit page:

http://home.attbi.com/~panic/Flash_and_Crash/

Solution / Fix

Macromedia Flash SWF Denial of Service Vulnerability

Solution:
Currently the SecurityFocus staff are not aware of any vendor supplied patches for this issue. If you feel we are in error or are aware of more recent information, please mail us at: [email protected].

References

Macromedia Flash SWF Denial of Service Vulnerability

References:
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