CVE-2018-19764 in Mini-XML
Summary
by MITRE
Mini-XML (aka mxml) 2.12 has memory leaks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19764 affects Mini-XML version 2.12, a lightweight XML parsing library commonly used in embedded systems and applications requiring minimal memory footprint. This memory leak issue represents a critical weakness in the library's resource management capabilities, where allocated memory is not properly released during the parsing and processing of XML documents. The flaw manifests when the library handles certain XML structures, particularly those involving nested elements or complex document hierarchies, leading to gradual memory consumption that can eventually exhaust system resources.
The technical root cause of this memory leak stems from improper memory deallocation within the Mini-XML library's internal functions responsible for parsing and managing XML node structures. When processing XML documents containing specific patterns or when handling large datasets, the library fails to correctly release memory allocated for temporary data structures, document nodes, or parsing buffers. This behavior aligns with CWE-401, which categorizes memory leaks as a common software weakness where allocated memory is not properly freed, leading to resource exhaustion over time. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because Mini-XML is often embedded in security-critical applications such as network devices, IoT systems, and embedded firmware where memory constraints are tight and resource management is paramount.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple performance degradation to potentially compromise system stability and availability. In embedded environments where memory is limited, the progressive accumulation of unreleased memory can lead to application crashes, system instability, or complete system failure. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious XML documents designed to trigger the memory leak patterns, causing denial of service conditions that might be particularly devastating in critical infrastructure applications. The vulnerability affects systems running Mini-XML 2.12 and earlier versions, making it a widespread concern across numerous embedded systems, network appliances, and IoT devices that rely on this library for XML processing functionality. Organizations utilizing this library in production environments face significant risk of operational disruptions and potential security incidents.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-19764 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates and version upgrades to patched versions of Mini-XML. System administrators should prioritize updating all affected systems to the latest stable release of the library, which includes proper memory management fixes. Additionally, implementing memory monitoring and resource usage alerts can help detect early signs of memory exhaustion that may indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing input validation measures for XML processing, including limiting document size and complexity, to reduce the attack surface. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation and denial of service techniques, as it can be leveraged to disrupt system operations and potentially gain unauthorized access to compromised systems. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar memory management issues across the entire software ecosystem, particularly in embedded and IoT environments where such vulnerabilities pose the greatest risk to operational continuity and security posture.