CVE-2023-37174 in GPAC
Summary
by MITRE • 07/12/2023
GPAC v2.3-DEV-rev381-g817a848f6-master was discovered to contain a segmentation violation in the dump_isom_scene function at /mp4box/filedump.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-37174 affects GPAC version 2.3-DEV-rev381-g817a848f6-master and represents a critical segmentation fault occurring within the dump_isom_scene function located in the filedump.c module. This issue manifests as a memory access violation that can potentially lead to application crashes or system instability when processing certain media files. The flaw exists in the ISO base media file format handling capabilities of the GPAC multimedia framework, which is widely used for media processing and playback across various platforms and applications.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the dump_isom_scene function. When the application encounters specific malformed or maliciously crafted media files during the dumping process, the function fails to properly handle memory references, resulting in a segmentation violation. This type of error typically occurs when the program attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly allocated or have been freed, or when there are insufficient bounds checking mechanisms in place. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues and can be classified as a CWE-125 vulnerability, which represents out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it presents a potential vector for denial of service attacks against systems that rely on GPAC for media processing. Attackers could craft specially formatted media files that trigger the segmentation fault when processed by applications using the affected GPAC library, leading to service disruption and potential system instability. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where automated media processing occurs, such as content management systems, streaming platforms, or media servers that handle user-uploaded files without proper sanitization. The attack surface is broad given GPAC's widespread adoption in multimedia applications and its integration into various software ecosystems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to the latest stable release of GPAC that addresses this specific segmentation fault. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures when processing media files, particularly those received from untrusted sources. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in the broader software ecosystem. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the T1499.004 technique for network denial of service, and defensive measures should include monitoring for unusual application crash patterns and implementing robust error handling mechanisms. Additionally, developers should adopt secure coding practices that emphasize proper memory management and input validation to prevent similar issues in future implementations, aligning with industry standards such as those recommended by the Open Web Application Security Project OWASP for preventing memory corruption vulnerabilities.