CVE-2025-26305 in libming
Summary
by MITRE • 02/20/2025
A memory leak has been identified in the parseSWF_SOUNDINFO function in util/parser.c of libming v0.4.8, which allows attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted SWF file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2025-26305 represents a critical memory management flaw within the libming library version 0.4.8, specifically within the parseSWF_SOUNDINFO function located in util/parser.c. This memory leak occurs when processing specially crafted SWF files, creating a condition where allocated memory is not properly released back to the system. The flaw exists in the context of multimedia file parsing operations, where the library is designed to interpret and process Shockwave Flash content for various applications including web browsers and multimedia frameworks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory deallocation within the parseSWF_SOUNDINFO function which handles sound information parsing in SWF files. When the parser encounters malformed or maliciously constructed SWF content containing crafted sound data structures, it fails to execute proper cleanup routines for allocated memory blocks. This results in a gradual accumulation of unreleased memory segments that persist throughout the application lifecycle, ultimately leading to resource exhaustion. The vulnerability manifests as a classic memory leak pattern where memory is allocated but never freed, causing progressive memory consumption that can eventually render the affected system or application unusable.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple resource consumption, as it creates a reliable denial of service condition that can be exploited by remote attackers. An attacker can construct a malicious SWF file containing specific malformed sound information structures that trigger the memory leak when processed by any application utilizing libming version 0.4.8. This creates a vector for service disruption across various software platforms that depend on the library for SWF parsing capabilities, including web browsers, multimedia players, and content management systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because SWF files are commonly distributed through web content, making this attack surface potentially widespread and easily exploitable by threat actors without requiring elevated privileges or specialized knowledge.
The root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-401, which specifically addresses memory leaks in software systems, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. The flaw represents a failure in proper resource management during parsing operations, where the application does not maintain adequate memory cleanup procedures for all code paths. This vulnerability is further categorized under the broader class of software quality issues that affect the stability and reliability of multimedia processing libraries. Organizations using libming in their applications should prioritize immediate remediation through version updates or implementing additional memory monitoring and protection mechanisms to prevent exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-26305 should include immediate patching of libming to version 0.4.9 or later where the memory leak has been addressed through proper memory deallocation routines. System administrators should implement monitoring for abnormal memory consumption patterns in applications that utilize the affected library, as early detection can help identify exploitation attempts. Additionally, input validation measures should be strengthened to reject SWF files with suspicious sound information structures, and applications should implement memory usage limits to prevent complete system exhaustion. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular library updates and thorough security testing of third-party components, particularly those handling untrusted input data in multimedia processing contexts.