CVE-2023-6602 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE • 12/31/2024
A flaw was found in FFmpeg's TTY Demuxer. This vulnerability allows possible data exfiltration via improper parsing of non-TTY-compliant input files in HLS playlists.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-6602 resides within FFmpeg's TTY demuxer component, representing a critical security weakness that could enable unauthorized data exfiltration through malformed HLS playlist files. This flaw specifically manifests when the system processes input files that do not conform to TTY standards, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors seeking to exploit the parsing mechanisms. The TTY demuxer's improper handling of non-compliant input creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate the parsing behavior and potentially extract sensitive information from the system.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and parsing logic within the TTY demuxer module. When FFmpeg encounters HLS playlist files containing non-TTY-compliant data structures, the demuxer fails to properly sanitize or reject these inputs, allowing malformed content to be processed and potentially exploited. This parsing failure creates a condition where attacker-controlled data can influence the demuxer's operational behavior, potentially leading to information disclosure or unauthorized data extraction. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, representing improper input validation, and demonstrates how insufficient sanitization of input streams can create security weaknesses in multimedia processing pipelines.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that rely on FFmpeg for video processing and streaming applications. Attackers could craft malicious HLS playlist files designed to trigger the vulnerable parsing logic, potentially enabling them to extract data from the target system or compromise the integrity of the multimedia processing pipeline. The impact extends beyond simple data exfiltration as the vulnerability could also facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as command injection or privilege escalation within the processing environment. Organizations utilizing FFmpeg for content ingestion or streaming services face potential exposure to these threats, particularly in scenarios where playlist files originate from untrusted sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-6602 should prioritize immediate patching of affected FFmpeg versions to address the flawed TTY demuxer implementation. System administrators should implement strict input validation policies for HLS playlist files, ensuring that all incoming content undergoes thorough sanitization before processing. Network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit exposure of systems handling multimedia content, while monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous parsing behaviors or unexpected data flows. Organizations should also consider implementing automated content verification mechanisms that can identify and reject non-compliant HLS playlist structures before they reach the vulnerable demuxer components. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 for command injection and T1567 for exfiltration, highlighting the multi-faceted attack surface that this flaw exposes. Regular security assessments of multimedia processing pipelines and adherence to secure coding practices for input validation will help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future implementations.