CVE-2026-2920 in GStreamer
Summary
by MITRE • 03/16/2026
GStreamer ASF Demuxer Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of GStreamer. Interaction with this library is required to exploit this vulnerability but attack vectors may vary depending on the implementation.
The specific flaw exists within the processing of stream headers within ASF files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a fixed-length heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-28843.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2026
The CVE-2026-2920 vulnerability represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in the GStreamer ASF Demuxer component that enables remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability specifically targets the processing of stream headers within Advanced Systems Format files, which are commonly used for multimedia streaming and playback. The flaw exists within the demultiplexer module responsible for parsing ASF container format files, making it a fundamental component in multimedia processing pipelines across various operating systems and applications that utilize GStreamer for media handling. The vulnerability was identified and tracked as ZDI-CAN-28843, highlighting its significance in the cybersecurity community and the need for immediate remediation efforts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation during the parsing of ASF file headers. When the demuxer processes user-supplied data from ASF stream headers, it fails to properly validate the length of incoming data before copying it into a fixed-length heap-based buffer. This classic buffer overflow condition occurs because the application does not enforce bounds checking on the size of user-provided data, allowing malicious actors to supply oversized data that exceeds the allocated buffer capacity. The flaw manifests when the system attempts to copy data from an unvalidated source into a predetermined memory buffer, resulting in memory corruption that can be exploited to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow, which is categorized as a memory safety error that directly enables arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple attack vectors and system configurations, as the exploitation requires interaction with the GStreamer library through various application interfaces. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious ASF files that contain oversized header data, which when processed by vulnerable applications, trigger the buffer overflow condition. The remote code execution capability allows adversaries to execute arbitrary code within the context of the current process, potentially leading to complete system compromise depending on the privileges of the affected application. This vulnerability affects any system that utilizes GStreamer for ASF file processing, including media players, streaming servers, and multimedia applications that rely on the demultiplexer component for handling advanced system format content. The attack surface is broadened by the widespread use of GStreamer across Linux distributions, Windows applications, and mobile platforms that support multimedia streaming functionality.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2026-2920 should prioritize immediate patching of affected GStreamer installations to address the buffer overflow condition in the ASF demuxer module. System administrators should implement network-based restrictions to prevent unauthorized access to systems processing ASF content, while also monitoring for suspicious file uploads or streaming activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. Application-level defenses should include input validation and sanitization of ASF file headers, as well as implementing memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) suggests that exploitation may involve PowerShell-based attack chains or client-side execution techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while maintaining regular security updates to prevent similar vulnerabilities from arising in other components of the multimedia processing pipeline.