CVE-2022-24574 in GPAC
Summary
by MITRE • 03/14/2022
GPAC 1.0.1 is affected by a NULL pointer dereference in gf_dump_vrml_field.isra ().
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2026
The vulnerability CVE-2022-24574 represents a critical NULL pointer dereference flaw within the GPAC multimedia framework version 1.0.1. This issue specifically manifests in the gf_dump_vrml_field.isra function, which is responsible for processing VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) field data during media file parsing operations. The vulnerability arises when the application attempts to access a memory location through a pointer that has been initialized to NULL, leading to a potential application crash or system instability. This flaw exists in the context of multimedia file processing where GPAC handles various media formats including 3gp, mp4, and other container formats that may contain VRML content or references.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the VRML field dumping mechanism. When processing malformed or specially crafted media files, the gf_dump_vrml_field.isra function fails to properly validate pointer references before dereferencing them, creating an execution path where a NULL pointer is accessed. This NULL pointer dereference typically occurs when the application expects certain data structures to be populated but encounters uninitialized or improperly parsed VRML field elements. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-476 NULL Pointer Dereference under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, which specifically addresses the risk of dereferencing null pointers in software applications.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that utilize GPAC for multimedia processing, particularly in environments where untrusted media files are processed. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious media files that trigger the NULL pointer dereference during parsing, potentially causing denial of service conditions or application crashes. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as this vulnerability could be leveraged in broader attack chains where system stability is compromised, affecting multimedia servers, content delivery networks, or media processing applications that depend on GPAC. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a Denial of Service technique under the T1499 sub-technique, where adversaries leverage software vulnerabilities to disrupt system availability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-24574 should prioritize immediate patching of GPAC to version 1.0.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the NULL pointer dereference issue. Organizations should implement strict input validation measures for all media files processed through GPAC, including file format verification and content scanning before ingestion. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of systems running GPAC to untrusted inputs. Additionally, monitoring and logging mechanisms should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts through unusual crash patterns or processing failures. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for media processing environments and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing multimedia parsing vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution risk in certain contexts necessitates comprehensive security assessments of all systems utilizing GPAC, particularly those handling external media content or user-uploaded files.