CVE-2023-39616 in AOMedia
Summary
by MITRE • 08/29/2023
AOMedia v3.0.0 to v3.5.0 was discovered to contain an invalid read memory access via the component assign_frame_buffer_p in av1/common/av1_common_int.h.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-39616 affects the AOMedia AV1 codec library version 3.0.0 through 3.5.0, representing a critical memory safety issue that could potentially lead to system instability or arbitrary code execution. This flaw exists within the assign_frame_buffer_p component located in the av1/common/av1_common_int.h file, which is a core part of the codec's frame buffer management system. The issue manifests as an invalid read memory access condition that occurs during the processing of AV1 video streams, particularly when handling frame buffer assignments in the decoding pipeline.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking and memory validation within the frame buffer assignment logic. When the assign_frame_buffer_p function processes incoming video frames, it fails to adequately validate pointer references and buffer boundaries before attempting to read memory locations. This invalid read access can occur when the codec encounters malformed or specially crafted AV1 bitstreams that trigger unexpected execution paths in the frame buffer management code. The vulnerability represents a classic example of a memory corruption issue that falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, specifically involving out-of-bounds read operations that can lead to information disclosure or system compromise.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that process AV1 video content, particularly those in media streaming services, video conferencing platforms, and content delivery networks that utilize the AOMedia library. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious AV1 video files that, when processed by vulnerable software, would trigger the invalid memory read and potentially allow for remote code execution or denial of service conditions. The impact extends beyond simple system crashes, as this vulnerability could enable attackers to extract sensitive information from memory or manipulate the execution flow of affected applications. The attack surface is particularly broad given the widespread adoption of AV1 as a royalty-free video codec standard.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-39616 should prioritize immediate patching of all affected AOMedia library versions to the latest releases that contain the necessary fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of their video processing pipelines to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish robust input validation mechanisms for all AV1 content. Security teams should also consider deploying runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries to limit the impact of potential exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation, making it a significant concern for enterprise security postures. Additionally, network segmentation and content filtering mechanisms should be implemented to prevent untrusted AV1 content from reaching vulnerable systems, particularly in environments where user-generated media is processed.