CVE-2022-1925 in gstreamer
Summary
by MITRE • 07/20/2022
DOS / potential heap overwrite in mkv demuxing using HEADERSTRIP decompression. Integer overflow in matroskaparse element in gst_matroska_decompress_data function which causes a heap overflow. Due to restrictions on chunk sizes in the matroskademux element, the overflow can't be triggered, however the matroskaparse element has no size checks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2022-1925 represents a critical security flaw within the GStreamer multimedia framework's handling of matroska container format files. This issue manifests as a denial of service condition that could potentially escalate to heap overflow conditions during the decompression process of mkv demuxing operations. The vulnerability specifically targets the matroskaparse element which is responsible for parsing matroska container format files and extracting their constituent data streams. The flaw exists within the gst_matroska_decompress_data function where an integer overflow occurs during header stripping decompression operations, creating conditions that could lead to memory corruption.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the matroskaparse element of GStreamer's matroska plugin. When processing specially crafted matroska files, the function fails to properly validate integer values during the decompression process, leading to an integer overflow condition. This overflow directly translates to a heap overflow scenario where the application attempts to allocate memory blocks that exceed the intended size limits. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because while the matroskademux element includes size restrictions that prevent triggering the overflow condition in normal circumstances, the matroskaparse element lacks equivalent safeguards, making it susceptible to exploitation through crafted input data.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-1925 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. Systems processing matroska files through GStreamer components are at risk of experiencing application crashes, system instability, or in worst-case scenarios, arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability affects applications that utilize GStreamer's matroska parsing capabilities, including media players, streaming servers, and content processing applications. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious matroska files designed to trigger the integer overflow during decompression, potentially causing the target application to crash or behave unpredictably.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which specifically addresses issues where integer arithmetic results in values that exceed the maximum representable value for the data type. The flaw also demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, as it represents a method for executing malicious code through media processing applications. Organizations using GStreamer-based applications should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions and implement additional input validation measures. Network security controls such as content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional defense-in-depth layers. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper integer overflow protection in multimedia processing libraries and highlights the need for comprehensive input validation across all stages of media file parsing and decompression operations.
This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical security considerations required in multimedia processing frameworks where complex file format parsing operations can introduce memory corruption risks. The absence of size checks in the matroskaparse element creates a dangerous gap in the security posture of GStreamer applications, demonstrating how seemingly minor implementation oversights in parsing logic can create significant security risks. The remediation approach should focus on implementing proper integer overflow protection mechanisms, establishing robust input validation procedures, and ensuring consistent size checking across all elements of the matroska processing pipeline to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future.