CVE-2026-105273 in dcm4chee-arc-light
Summary
by MITRE • 10/16/2026
MP4Parser does not adequately validate MP4 box sizes. A malformed box can cause parsing to make no forward progress and repeatedly process the same input.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2026
The vulnerability in MP4Parser stems from a fundamental failure in input validation regarding the structural integrity of ISO Base Media File Format containers, commonly known as MP4 files. These files are composed of hierarchical structures called boxes or atoms, each containing metadata and media data. A critical component of this structure is the box size field, which dictates how many bytes follow the header before the next box begins. In a well-formed file, these sizes must accurately reflect the actual content length to ensure sequential parsing proceeds correctly from one element to the next without overlap or gaps. The identified flaw indicates that the parser does not sufficiently verify whether the declared size of an MP4 box is consistent with the remaining data in the stream or adheres to logical constraints such as non-negative values and reasonable upper bounds relative to file boundaries.
This lack of adequate validation allows attackers to craft malformed MP4 files where a specific box declares a size that exceeds available data, points backward into previously processed content, or creates an infinite loop condition by referencing itself. When the parser encounters such a maliciously constructed header, it fails to detect the anomaly and proceeds with parsing logic based on the incorrect size information. Instead of terminating execution upon detecting invalid structure, the software enters a state where it repeatedly processes the same segment of input data. This behavior effectively traps the application in an infinite loop or causes it to consume resources indefinitely while attempting to read non-existent bytes beyond the end of the file buffer.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is primarily denial of service against applications that utilize MP4Parser for media processing, video editing software, streaming servers, or any system integrating multimedia playback capabilities. By triggering an infinite loop through a specially crafted input file, an attacker can cause significant CPU exhaustion and memory consumption on the affected host. This resource depletion renders the application unresponsive to legitimate user interactions and may lead to process termination by operating system watchdogs if configured with strict timeout policies. In server environments hosting media content, this could result in service degradation for multiple users sharing computational resources or trigger automatic restarts that disrupt availability services.
From a classification perspective, this issue aligns closely with CWE-20 Improper Input Validation and CWE-835 Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition Commonly Known as Infinite Loop. The root cause lies in the absence of robust boundary checks before advancing the file pointer or buffer index during parsing operations. Furthermore, within the context of attack techniques, this vulnerability facilitates resource exhaustion attacks similar to those described under MITRE ATT&CK technique T1496 Resource Hijacking, where an adversary manipulates system resources to degrade performance or cause denial of service without necessarily compromising confidentiality or integrity directly.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing rigorous validation logic within the parser before processing any box header. Developers must verify that declared box sizes are positive integers and do not exceed the remaining bytes in the file buffer. Additionally, it is advisable to implement safeguards such as maximum iteration limits for parsing loops and timeout mechanisms that abort operations if progress stalls beyond a predefined threshold. Regular fuzzing of media parsers using tools designed to generate malformed inputs can help identify similar edge cases before deployment. Updating dependencies or patching the library with fixes that enforce strict adherence to ISO 14496-12 standards ensures resilience against such structural manipulation attempts and maintains system stability under adversarial conditions.