CVE-2018-11225 in libming
Summary
by MITRE
The dcputs function in decompile.c in libming through 0.4.8 mishandles cases where the header indicates a file size greater than the actual size, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (Segmentation fault and application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11225 resides within the libming library version 0.4.8 and earlier, specifically in the dcputs function located in decompile.c. This flaw represents a classic buffer handling error that occurs during the decompilation process of flash files, creating a scenario where the library fails to properly validate file size parameters. The issue manifests when the header of a file indicates a size that exceeds the actual data content, leading to improper memory management and potential execution flow disruptions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the decompilation routine. When the dcputs function processes a malformed file header with inflated size indicators, it attempts to allocate memory or traverse data structures based on these incorrect size parameters. This mismanagement creates a condition where the application may attempt to access memory beyond allocated boundaries, resulting in segmentation faults and subsequent application crashes. The vulnerability falls under CWE-129 Input Validation and Output Encoding, specifically addressing insufficient validation of length parameters in memory operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that utilize libming for flash file processing or conversion. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious flash files with manipulated headers, enabling them to trigger denial of service conditions that can disrupt legitimate service operations. The impact extends beyond simple crashes as the vulnerability may potentially allow for more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution depending on the specific implementation context and memory layout. This makes it particularly dangerous in environments where automated processing of user-uploaded content occurs.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is broad within systems that depend on libming for multimedia processing, particularly web applications, content management systems, and file conversion services that handle user-provided flash files. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require local system access, making it especially concerning for web-facing applications. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1499.004 Network Denial of Service and T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to cause system instability and potentially execute malicious commands through compromised processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-11225 should prioritize immediate patching of libming to version 0.4.9 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper file size validation. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures that verify file headers against actual content sizes before processing. Additionally, deploying network segmentation and access controls can limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts. The implementation of proper error handling and memory safety mechanisms within applications using libming can provide additional defense layers against this class of vulnerability. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in other third-party libraries and components that may be susceptible to analogous buffer handling flaws.