CVE-2017-11703 in Ming
Summary
by MITRE
A memory leak vulnerability was found in the function parseSWF_DOACTION in util/parser.c in Ming 0.4.8, which allows attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2025
The memory leak vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11703 resides within the Ming library version 0.4.8, specifically within the parseSWF_DOACTION function located in util/parser.c. This flaw represents a critical security issue that can be exploited to cause denial of service conditions. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management during the parsing of Shockwave Flash files, particularly when processing the DOACTION tag structure. The Ming library serves as a SWF file manipulation library that allows developers to create and modify flash content programmatically, making it a widely used component in various applications and systems that handle flash-based content. When an attacker crafts a malicious SWF file containing specially constructed DOACTION tags, the vulnerable parsing function fails to properly release allocated memory resources, leading to progressive memory consumption over time.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the parseSWF_DOACTION function failing to account for all memory allocations that occur during the parsing process of action script data within SWF files. When the function encounters malformed or specially crafted action script sequences, it executes code paths that allocate memory for processing these actions but does not consistently free this memory upon function completion or error conditions. This memory allocation pattern creates a memory leak where allocated memory blocks remain in the process heap without proper deallocation, gradually consuming available system resources. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because SWF file parsing occurs in the context of web browsers, content management systems, and media processing applications that may process untrusted SWF content from external sources. The leak manifests as a gradual increase in memory usage that can eventually exhaust system resources, leading to application crashes or complete system unresponsiveness. This behavior aligns with CWE-401, which specifically addresses improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation in software systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-11703 extends beyond simple resource exhaustion, as it can be leveraged to create persistent denial of service conditions in systems that rely on the Ming library for SWF processing. Attackers can craft malicious SWF files that, when processed by vulnerable applications, cause memory leaks that compound over time, potentially leading to system instability or complete service interruption. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in server environments where multiple SWF files may be processed sequentially, as each file can contribute to the progressive memory consumption. The attack vector typically involves web applications that accept SWF uploads or process SWF content from external sources, making it applicable to content management systems, web browsers with flash support, and multimedia processing platforms. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under the Defense Evasion and Resource Exhaustion tactics, where adversaries exploit software weaknesses to consume system resources and disrupt normal operations. Organizations using the affected Ming library version may experience cascading failures if multiple processes are affected simultaneously, potentially leading to broader system outages.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-11703 primarily focus on immediate library updates and code-level defensive measures. The most effective solution involves upgrading to a patched version of the Ming library that addresses the memory leak in the parseSWF_DOACTION function, ensuring that all allocated memory is properly freed regardless of parsing outcomes. System administrators should implement input validation and sanitization measures for SWF content, particularly when processing user-uploaded files or external content sources. Additionally, deploying memory monitoring and resource limiting mechanisms can help detect and prevent memory exhaustion attacks before they cause significant system disruption. Applications using the Ming library should implement proper error handling and memory cleanup routines that ensure allocated resources are freed even when parsing errors occur. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper memory management practices and adherence to secure coding guidelines, particularly in libraries that process untrusted binary data formats. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based security controls such as content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms to limit the impact of potentially malicious SWF files. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar memory management issues in other components of the software stack that may be susceptible to similar exploitation patterns.