CVE-2023-36252 in Flamingo XL
Summary
by MITRE • 06/26/2023
An issue in Ateme Flamingo XL v.3.6.20 and XS v.3.6.5 allows a remote authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code and cause a denial of service via a the session expiration function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-36252 affects Ateme Flamingo XL version 3.6.20 and Ateme Flamingo XS version 3.6.5, representing critical security flaws within broadcast and streaming equipment used in professional media environments. These devices are widely deployed in television production facilities, broadcast networks, and content delivery systems where reliable operation is paramount. The vulnerability resides within the session expiration function of the affected software versions, creating a potential entry point for malicious actors who can leverage authenticated access to execute arbitrary code or trigger denial of service conditions. This flaw particularly concerns the security posture of media infrastructure systems where unauthorized code execution could compromise entire broadcast workflows and content distribution channels.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of session management within the Ateme Flamingo products, specifically during the session expiration process. When legitimate users authenticate to the system, the session management mechanism fails to properly validate or sanitize session data during expiration events, creating opportunities for buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other code injection vectors. The flaw likely involves insufficient input validation or improper memory management when processing session expiration requests, allowing an authenticated attacker to craft malicious session data that triggers unexpected behavior in the underlying software stack. This vulnerability type aligns with CWE-121, which covers stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The exploitation requires an authenticated user context, meaning that attackers must first establish valid credentials to the system before attempting to leverage this vulnerability.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-36252 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities to encompass potential service disruption that could severely impact broadcast operations and content delivery systems. When exploited, the vulnerability can enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the affected service, potentially allowing full system compromise or unauthorized access to sensitive broadcast data. The denial of service component of this vulnerability could result in complete system outages, forcing production facilities to halt operations until the affected systems are patched or rebooted. In professional media environments where uptime is critical and content delivery schedules are tightly coordinated, such disruptions can result in significant financial losses and damage to reputation. The vulnerability affects systems that may be operating in isolated networks or connected to broader enterprise infrastructure, potentially allowing attackers to use this initial compromise as a foothold for further lateral movement within the organization's network architecture.
Organizations using Ateme Flamingo XL and XS systems should prioritize immediate remediation through official vendor patches and updates provided in accordance with the CVE-2023-36252 disclosure. The mitigation strategy should include network segmentation to limit access to these systems, implementing strict authentication controls, and monitoring for unusual session expiration patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts targeting session management functions and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing this vulnerability type. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1499 for network denial of service, indicating that exploitation would involve both code execution and service disruption tactics. Organizations should also review their supply chain security practices, as this vulnerability demonstrates how flaws in media infrastructure equipment can create attack vectors that extend beyond traditional IT security boundaries into operational technology environments where the stakes for system reliability are particularly high.