The network protocol software is widely deployed and applied, and it provides diversified functions such as communication, transmission, control, and management in cyberspace. In recent years, its security has gradually attracted the attention of academia and industry. Timely finding and repairing network protocol software vulnerabilities has become an important topic. The features, such as diversified deployment methods, complex protocol interaction processes, and functional differences in multiple protocol implementations of the same protocol specification, make the vulnerability mining technique of network protocol software face many challenges. This study first classifies the vulnerability mining technologies of network protocol software and defines the connotation of existing key technologies. Secondly, this study summarizes the technical progress in four aspects of network protocol software vulnerability mining, including network protocol description method, mining object adaptation technology, fuzz testing technology, and vulnerability mining method based on program analysis. In addition, through comparative analysis, the technical advantages and evaluation dimensions of different methods are summarized. Finally, this study summarizes the technical status and challenges of network protocol software vulnerability mining and proposes five potential research directions.