CVE-2026-116612 in Gst-Editing-Services
Summary
by MITRE • 10/26/2026
A flaw was found in GStreamer Editing Services (gst-editing-services). A GES project file can embed an arbitrary GStreamer pipeline description as an effect definition. When such a file is loaded, either explicitly by an editing application or automatically by a media player or file-manager thumbnailing service that uses GStreamer autoplugging, the pipeline description is parsed and instantiated without restriction on which elements may be used or which properties may be set. A remote attacker who can deliver a crafted project file to a victim's system can trigger reading or writing of arbitrary local files, issue outbound network requests to attacker-controlled servers, or cause the application to crash. Under certain conditions the file-write capability may be leveraged to achieve code execution.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2026
The vulnerability identified in GStreamer Editing Services (gst-editing-services) represents a critical security flaw rooted in improper input validation and unrestricted resource instantiation within project file parsing mechanisms. At its core, this issue allows an attacker to embed arbitrary GStreamer pipeline descriptions directly into the definition of effects within a GES project file. When such a maliciously crafted file is processed by an application utilizing gst-editing-services, the system parses the embedded pipeline description without applying any restrictions on which GStreamer elements may be instantiated or what properties can be configured. This lack of sanitization effectively bypasses standard security boundaries that typically limit user-supplied data to safe operations, thereby granting the attacker significant control over the underlying media processing framework during execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to the broad capabilities inherent in GStreamer pipelines when instantiated without constraints. A remote attacker who successfully delivers a crafted project file can exploit this flaw to trigger reading or writing of arbitrary local files on the victim's system. This capability allows for unauthorized data exfiltration by reading sensitive information from disk, as well as potential persistence mechanisms through malicious file writes. Furthermore, the vulnerability enables outbound network requests to servers controlled by the attacker, facilitating command and control communications or further payload delivery. In scenarios where specific conditions are met regarding memory layout and element configuration, the ability to write files can be leveraged to achieve arbitrary code execution, escalating the threat from data compromise to full system takeover.
This flaw is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered not only by explicit user actions in editing applications but also automatically by media players or file-manager thumbnailing services that rely on GStreamer autoplugging features. This means that merely viewing a directory containing the malicious project file, or opening it in a standard media player for preview purposes, may suffice to trigger the exploit without any direct interaction with an advanced video editor interface. The reliance on automatic parsing and instantiation of pipeline elements creates a wide attack surface where passive consumption of content leads to active exploitation of system resources.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-94 Improper Control of Generation of Code (Code Injection), specifically involving the injection of executable logic through configuration files rather than direct code input. It also relates to CWE-20 Improper Input Validation and CWE-78 OS Command Injection in contexts where pipeline elements act as proxies for system commands or network operations. In terms of adversary tactics, this exploit maps to ATT&CK technique T1553 Subvert Trust Controls, specifically Marking File for Execution if file write capabilities are leveraged for code execution, and T1048 Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol via the outbound network requests capability.
Mitigation strategies must focus on restricting the scope of GStreamer elements that can be instantiated from untrusted sources. Developers should implement strict allowlists for pipeline element types and properties when parsing project files derived from external or unverified origins. Additionally, sandboxing mechanisms such as namespaces, cgroups, or secure application containers should be employed to limit the impact of any successful exploitation by restricting file system access and network connectivity for processes handling media content. Users are advised to avoid opening project files from unknown sources in applications that utilize automatic thumbnail generation or autoplugging features until patches addressing this input validation flaw are applied.