CVE-2026-19387 in Red Hat
Summary
by MITRE • 08/10/2026
A heap out-of-bounds write vulnerability was found in the GStreamer gst-plugins-bad adpcmdec element when decoding IMA/DVI ADPCM audio. Insufficient validation of the per-block sample count for multi-channel streams allows a crafted WAV file to cause writes beyond the allocated output buffer. This can lead to application crash, denial of service, memory corruption, or potentially arbitrary code execution when untrusted media is processed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2026
This heap out-of-bounds write vulnerability exists within the GStreamer multimedia framework's gst-plugins-bad package specifically in the adpcmdec element responsible for decoding IMA/DVI ADPCM audio formats. The flaw manifests when processing multi-channel audio streams where the decoder fails to properly validate the per-block sample count parameter, creating a condition where maliciously crafted WAV files can trigger memory corruption. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that do not adequately check the boundaries of allocated buffer space during the decoding process. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-787 which specifically addresses out-of-bounds writes in heap memory allocations, representing a critical security concern that can be exploited by attackers to compromise system integrity.
The technical exploitation occurs when an attacker crafts a WAV file containing malformed ADPCM data with incorrect sample count values for multi-channel streams. During normal operation, the adpcmdec element allocates a fixed-size buffer for output audio samples based on expected block parameters, but when these parameters are manipulated beyond acceptable ranges, the decoder proceeds to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries. This condition can be leveraged through various attack vectors including web browsing, media playback applications, or automated processing systems that handle untrusted audio content. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple crashes as it can potentially enable memory corruption that may lead to arbitrary code execution under certain conditions, particularly when the affected application runs with elevated privileges.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are significant for any system utilizing GStreamer for media processing, including desktop applications, web browsers, and server-side media handling services. Attackers could exploit this weakness by delivering malicious audio files through various attack vectors such as email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms. The potential consequences range from application crashes and denial of service conditions to more serious memory corruption that might allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where automated media processing occurs without proper input sanitization, creating a persistent risk for organizations relying on GStreamer-based multimedia applications.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected GStreamer versions and implementing robust input validation mechanisms within applications that process multimedia content. System administrators should prioritize updating to patched versions of gst-plugins-bad and monitoring for any exploitation attempts through intrusion detection systems. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for media processing components, applying address space layout randomization, and employing stack canaries to reduce the potential impact of successful exploits. Additionally, input sanitization measures including strict validation of WAV file headers and sample count parameters can provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities in other multimedia codecs that may exhibit comparable flaws. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a memory corruption vulnerability under the technique of code injection, highlighting the need for comprehensive application security measures including runtime protections and secure coding practices to prevent exploitation attempts.