CVE-2017-7578 in libming
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple heap-based buffer overflows in parser.c in libming 0.4.7 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (listswf application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted SWF file. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2016-9831.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7578 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw within the libming library version 0.4.7, specifically within the parser.c component. This issue affects the listswf application which processes Shockwave Flash file format data, creating a significant security risk for systems that handle or process SWF content. The flaw stems from an incomplete remediation of a previous vulnerability, CVE-2016-9831, which demonstrates the complexity of addressing buffer overflow vulnerabilities in multimedia parsing libraries. The vulnerability manifests when the application processes malformed SWF files that contain crafted data structures designed to trigger memory corruption during parsing operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper bounds checking within the SWF file parser logic where the application fails to adequately validate the size and structure of various data elements within the SWF file format. When processing specially crafted SWF files, the parser attempts to allocate heap memory based on malformed size indicators or offsets, leading to writes beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This heap corruption occurs during the parsing of specific SWF elements such as tags, records, or data structures that contain oversized or malformed data fields. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, though the heap-based nature indicates more complex memory corruption patterns that can lead to unpredictable behavior and system instability.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7578 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution or system compromise. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can craft malicious SWF files that, when processed by vulnerable systems, will trigger the buffer overflow condition. This creates a significant threat vector for web applications, content management systems, or any software that relies on libming for SWF file processing. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate application crash but also the potential for information disclosure, system instability, or privilege escalation depending on the execution environment and memory layout. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to cause service disruption, data corruption, or potentially gain unauthorized access to systems processing SWF content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7578 should focus on immediate patching of the libming library to version 0.4.8 or later, which contains the complete fix for both CVE-2016-9831 and CVE-2017-7578. Organizations should implement strict input validation and sanitization for all SWF file processing workflows, including the deployment of sandboxed environments for SWF file analysis and the implementation of network segmentation to limit exposure. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) as it represents a classic remote code execution vector that can be leveraged for privilege escalation and persistent access. Additionally, security monitoring should include detection of unusual SWF file processing patterns and memory allocation anomalies that could indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to prevent the delivery of potentially malicious SWF content to end-user systems.