CVE-2023-3291 in GPAC
Summary
by MITRE • 06/16/2023
Heap-based Buffer Overflow in GitHub repository gpac/gpac prior to 2.2.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2026
The heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-3291 affects the gpac/gpac repository prior to version 2.2.2, representing a critical security flaw that resides within the heap memory management of the General Purpose Audio Codec library. This vulnerability manifests when the application processes malformed input data through its buffer handling mechanisms, specifically within the memory allocation and data copying functions that operate on heap-allocated memory regions. The flaw enables attackers to write beyond the bounds of allocated memory segments, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 Heap-based Buffer Overflow, which directly maps to the fundamental weakness of insufficient boundary checking during heap memory operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the gpac library processes media files or data streams that contain specially crafted malicious payloads. During the parsing and decoding operations, the application allocates memory on the heap to store intermediate data structures but fails to properly validate the size of incoming data before copying it into these memory regions. This inadequate input validation creates a condition where attacker-controlled data can overflow the allocated buffer space, corrupting adjacent memory locations and potentially overwriting critical program data such as return addresses, function pointers, or other control structures. The heap-based nature of this vulnerability makes it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including file processing, network stream parsing, or API parameter manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-3291 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full system compromise and unauthorized code execution capabilities. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, leading to complete system takeover in scenarios where gpac is used in critical applications such as media servers, streaming platforms, or embedded systems. The vulnerability affects any system that utilizes gpac library versions prior to 2.2.2, including but not limited to multimedia applications, content delivery networks, and media processing frameworks that depend on this library for audio and video handling. The exploitability of this flaw increases significantly in environments where the library processes untrusted input from external sources, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise media processing infrastructure. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables attackers to execute malicious payloads through compromised media processing workflows.
Organizations and developers should immediately upgrade to gpac version 2.2.2 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as this release includes proper bounds checking mechanisms and memory validation routines that prevent the buffer overflow conditions. Additionally, implementing input validation controls at the application level, employing address space layout randomization, and utilizing stack canaries can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. System administrators should monitor for suspicious file processing activities and consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for media handling operations. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and dependency updates, as highlighted in NIST SP 800-160 and ISO/IEC 27001 standards for secure software development practices. Organizations relying on gpac should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems that may be exposed to this flaw and implement comprehensive monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts.