CVE-2025-26308 in libming
Summary
by MITRE • 02/20/2025
A memory leak has been identified in the parseSWF_FILTERLIST 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 • 09/13/2025
The memory leak vulnerability CVE-2025-26308 resides within the libming library version 0.4.8, specifically within the parseSWF_FILTERLIST function located in util/parser.c. This library serves as a SWF file manipulation tool that processes and parses Shockwave Flash files, making it a critical component in various multimedia applications and web content delivery systems. The vulnerability manifests when the library processes maliciously crafted SWF files that contain malformed filter list data, leading to improper memory management during the parsing operation. The flaw represents a classic memory management issue where allocated memory blocks are not properly released back to the system, creating a gradual consumption of available memory resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate error handling within the parseSWF_FILTERLIST function, which processes filter lists contained in SWF files. When encountering malformed or unexpected filter data structures, the function fails to properly clean up allocated memory resources before exiting or returning control to the calling application. This memory leak occurs because the code does not implement proper cleanup routines for all execution paths, particularly those involving error conditions or malformed input data. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-401 as a failure to release memory after it has been allocated, which directly aligns with the memory management practices that should be enforced in robust software systems. The issue is particularly concerning given that SWF files are commonly processed by web browsers, multimedia players, and content management systems that rely on libming for SWF parsing operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant denial of service risks for systems that process SWF content. An attacker can craft a malicious SWF file containing specially constructed filter list data that triggers the memory leak during parsing, causing the target application to gradually consume available system memory until the system becomes unresponsive or crashes. The cumulative nature of memory leaks means that repeated processing of such malicious files can lead to system instability, application hangs, or complete system exhaustion, especially in environments where SWF files are processed continuously. This vulnerability affects not only web applications but also desktop software and server applications that utilize libming for SWF file handling, potentially creating widespread service disruption across multiple attack vectors. The impact extends to both authenticated and unauthenticated attack scenarios, as any user or application that processes SWF content could be affected.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-26308 should prioritize immediate patching of affected libming installations to version 0.4.9 or later, which contains the necessary memory management fixes. Organizations should implement input validation and sanitization measures for all SWF file processing pipelines, including the implementation of resource limits and timeout mechanisms to prevent indefinite memory consumption. Network-based defenses can include content filtering systems that scan SWF files for known malicious patterns and implement sandboxing techniques to isolate SWF processing operations. Additionally, system administrators should monitor memory usage patterns and implement automated alerting for unusual memory consumption that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 which involves resource exhaustion attacks, and organizations should consider implementing defensive measures such as process isolation, memory monitoring, and automated incident response procedures to mitigate potential exploitation. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar memory management vulnerabilities in other third-party libraries and applications that process multimedia content.