CVE-2016-9807 in GStreamer
Summary
by MITRE
The flx_decode_chunks function in gst/flx/gstflxdec.c in GStreamer before 1.10.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid memory read and crash) via a crafted FLIC file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9807 resides within the GStreamer multimedia framework, specifically in the flx_decode_chunks function located in gst/flx/gstflxdec.c. This flaw affects GStreamer versions prior to 1.10.2 and represents a critical security issue that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks through carefully crafted FLIC files. The FLIC format is a multimedia container format used for storing animation and video content, commonly employed in older multimedia applications and games. The vulnerability manifests when the GStreamer media decoder processes malformed FLIC files, leading to invalid memory read operations that ultimately result in application crashes and system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the flx_decode_chunks function, which fails to properly sanitize or verify the structure of FLIC file headers and data chunks before processing. When a maliciously crafted FLIC file is presented to the affected GStreamer component, the function attempts to read memory locations that either do not exist or contain invalid data, triggering segmentation faults or memory access violations. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions where programs access memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. The flaw demonstrates poor defensive programming practices where the software assumes valid input without proper bounds checking or input sanitization mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that rely on GStreamer for multimedia processing, particularly in environments where users might encounter untrusted media content. Attackers can exploit this weakness by delivering malicious FLIC files through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the crash can potentially be leveraged to execute arbitrary code under certain conditions, though the primary effect remains denial of service. Systems running affected GStreamer versions are vulnerable to persistent disruption of multimedia services, which could be particularly problematic in enterprise environments where media processing pipelines are critical to business operations. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, "Exploitation for Client Execution," as it enables attackers to cause system instability through media file manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-9807 primarily involve upgrading to GStreamer version 1.10.2 or later, which includes patched implementations of the flx_decode_chunks function with proper input validation and bounds checking. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and content filtering measures to prevent unauthorized media file processing, particularly in environments where user-generated content is prevalent. Additionally, deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious file access patterns and implementing regular security assessments of multimedia processing components will help reduce the attack surface. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for media processing applications to contain potential impacts from exploitation attempts, ensuring that even if an attacker successfully exploits the vulnerability, the damage remains limited to the isolated processing environment.