Adobe issues critical security update for Shockwave Player
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Adobe Systems yesterday released a critical update for all versions of Shockwave Player and recommends that users upgrade to version 11.5.2.602 to protect against cyber attacks exploiting the vulnerability.
Adobe rated the update critical, its highest priority bulletin, which means the security vulnerability allows remote code execution on a victim PC without user knowledge. A hacker could exploit this vulnerability with malicious code on a website.
Four separate vulnerabilities are addressed in the update, three of which are invalid index, pointer and string length vulnerabilities that could allow remote code execution. The other vulnerability is a boundary condition issue that could allow a Denial of Service (DOS).
It is recommended that users of Adobe Shockwave Player 11.5.1.601 and earlier versions go to the Adobe download center to update to the fixed version, 11.5.2.602.
Shockwave Player is used by developers for creating web content that displays 3D graphics and is deployed on more than 450 million PCs, according to PC World. The risk of attack is likely high because so many PCs are vulnerable.
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