CVE-2016-9813 in GStreamer
Summary
by MITRE
The _parse_pat function in the mpegts parser in GStreamer before 1.10.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and crash) via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9813 represents a critical NULL pointer dereference flaw within the mpegts parser component of GStreamer media framework versions prior to 1.10.2. This issue resides in the _parse_pat function which is responsible for parsing Program Association Table entries in MPEG Transport Stream files. The flaw occurs when the parser encounters specially crafted malformed MPEGTS files that contain invalid or unexpected data structures within the PAT section. Such malformed inputs trigger a condition where the parser attempts to dereference a NULL pointer, leading to an immediate crash of the affected application. This vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and error handling within the media processing pipeline, exposing applications that utilize GStreamer for multimedia playback or processing to potential denial of service attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to prepare a specially crafted MPEGTS file containing malformed PAT data that causes the _parse_pat function to access uninitialized or improperly validated memory pointers. When a vulnerable application processes this crafted file, the parser fails to properly validate the incoming data structure and proceeds to execute code that attempts to dereference a NULL pointer, resulting in an immediate segmentation fault or access violation. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL Pointer Dereference conditions, and represents a fundamental failure in defensive programming practices. The vulnerability can be classified as a remote attack vector since it does not require local access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter malicious media files through web browsing, file sharing, or multimedia applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-9813 extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially disrupt multimedia services and user experiences across various platforms that depend on GStreamer for video and audio processing. Applications affected include media players, streaming services, broadcast systems, and multimedia frameworks that utilize GStreamer's mpegts parser for handling transport stream data. In enterprise environments, this vulnerability could be exploited to disrupt media services, cause service outages, or potentially serve as a stepping stone for more complex attacks if the vulnerable applications are part of larger attack chains. The vulnerability affects not only end-user applications but also server-side media processing systems, content delivery networks, and broadcast infrastructure that rely on GStreamer for handling MPEGTS streams. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1499.004 technique for network denial of service, and could potentially be leveraged as part of broader attack campaigns targeting multimedia infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-9813 primarily involve upgrading to GStreamer version 1.10.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly validate input data and prevent NULL pointer dereference conditions. System administrators should prioritize patching affected systems, particularly those running media servers, streaming platforms, or applications that process external media files. Additional protective measures include implementing input validation at multiple layers, deploying sandboxing mechanisms for media file processing, and configuring network filters to prevent access to potentially malicious media content. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring and alerting systems to detect unusual application crashes or service disruptions that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper error handling and defensive programming practices in multimedia processing frameworks, and serves as a reminder that media parsers must be robust against malformed input data. Security teams should also review their incident response procedures to ensure proper handling of denial of service events related to multimedia processing components.