CVE-2025-29490 in libming
Summary
by MITRE • 03/27/2025
libming v0.4.8 was discovered to contain a segmentation fault via the decompileCALLMETHOD function. This vulnerability allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) via a crafted SWF file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-29490 affects libming version 0.4.8, a library used for generating and manipulating Shockwave Flash files. This flaw resides within the decompileCALLMETHOD function which is responsible for processing method calls within SWF bytecode. The segmentation fault occurs when the library attempts to parse malformed or specially crafted SWF files that contain invalid method call structures. The issue represents a classic buffer over-read condition where the decompileCALLMETHOD function fails to properly validate input parameters before attempting to access memory locations, leading to an abrupt program termination. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, which is categorized as a memory safety error that can result in system instability and denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it provides attackers with a reliable method to induce denial of service against applications that depend on libming for SWF processing. When a malicious SWF file triggers the segmentation fault, the affected application crashes and terminates unexpectedly, potentially leaving systems in an unstable state. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where SWF files are processed automatically, such as content management systems, web applications that handle user-uploaded flash content, or media processing pipelines. The DoS condition affects not only individual applications but can also impact entire service availability, especially when multiple processes are simultaneously processing SWF files or when the vulnerable library is used in a multi-threaded environment where one crash can cascade to affect other operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-29490 should focus on immediate patching of affected libming versions to the latest release that contains the fix for the decompileCALLMETHOD function. Organizations should implement input validation measures that filter out potentially malicious SWF files before they reach the processing stage, utilizing file signature checks and content analysis tools to identify suspicious patterns. Network-level defenses can include implementing sandboxing mechanisms for SWF file processing, where untrusted content is executed in isolated environments to prevent system-wide crashes. Additionally, application developers should implement proper error handling and exception management within their code that uses libming, ensuring that segmentation faults do not propagate to cause broader system failures. From an attack prevention perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004: Endpoint Denial of Service, which targets the availability of computing resources through methods that disrupt normal system operations. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect unusual crash patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, as the segmentation fault behavior is typically consistent and predictable when triggered by crafted inputs.