CVE-2023-0770 in GPAC
Summary
by MITRE • 02/10/2023
Stack-based Buffer Overflow in GitHub repository gpac/gpac prior to 2.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0770 represents a stack-based buffer overflow flaw discovered in the gpac/gpac repository affecting versions prior to 22. This critical security issue resides within the General Purpose Audio Codec library implementation and specifically manifests in the handling of malformed input data during audio processing operations. The flaw originates from insufficient bounds checking in memory allocation routines that process audio frame data, creating an exploitable condition where attacker-controlled input can overwrite adjacent stack memory locations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow patterns where a fixed-size buffer on the stack receives data exceeding its allocated capacity. The gpac library processes various audio formats including mp4 and aac containers, and during parsing operations the vulnerable code fails to validate the length of incoming data before copying it into local stack buffers. This allows an attacker to craft malicious audio files that trigger the overflow condition when the library attempts to decode or process these inputs, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or application crash. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of software security and multimedia processing where input validation becomes critical for preventing memory corruption attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-0770 extends beyond simple application instability to potentially enable remote code execution in scenarios where affected systems process untrusted audio content. Systems utilizing gpac for media processing, streaming services, content delivery networks, and multimedia applications become vulnerable to exploitation. Attackers could leverage this flaw through crafted audio files delivered via web browsers, media players, or content management systems that rely on gpac for audio processing. The vulnerability's exploitability increases when systems process user-uploaded media content without proper sanitization, creating attack vectors through web applications that utilize the gpac library for audio handling.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability center on immediate version upgrading to gpac 2.2 or later where the buffer overflow has been addressed through proper bounds checking and input validation. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems utilizing gpac components receive updates promptly. Additional defensive measures include input sanitization at application layers, deployment of intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, and network segmentation to limit potential attack surface. Security teams should consider implementing runtime protections such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization to reduce exploit reliability. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, leveraging software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation and code execution, making it critical for organizations to prioritize remediation across all affected systems and applications.