CVE-2026-3081 in GStreamer
Summary
by MITRE • 03/16/2026
GStreamer H.266 Codec Parser Stack-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 parsing of decoding units. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a fixed-length stack-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-28839.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2026
The CVE-2026-3081 vulnerability represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow in the GStreamer H.266 Codec Parser component that exposes systems to remote code execution attacks. This vulnerability resides within the H.266 video codec parsing functionality, which is part of the broader GStreamer multimedia framework used extensively across Linux and Unix-based systems for media processing and streaming. The flaw specifically manifests during the parsing of decoding units within the H.266 codec implementation, where insufficient input validation leads to unsafe memory operations that can be exploited by remote attackers to gain arbitrary code execution privileges.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking during the handling of user-supplied data within the codec parser. When processing H.266 video streams, the parser fails to validate the length of incoming data before copying it into a fixed-size stack-based buffer. This classic buffer overflow condition occurs because the implementation does not perform adequate length verification against the buffer capacity, allowing an attacker to supply malicious data that exceeds the allocated stack space. The vulnerability is categorized as CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is a well-documented weakness in software security that directly enables attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses and control data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass potential system compromise and privilege escalation scenarios. Attackers can leverage this weakness through various attack vectors depending on how GStreamer is integrated into target systems, including web browsers, media players, streaming applications, and server-side media processing services. The vulnerability's exploitation requires interaction with the affected GStreamer library, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multimedia content is frequently processed or streamed. When successfully exploited, the buffer overflow allows attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the current process, potentially leading to full system compromise if the affected service runs with elevated privileges.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where attackers can execute malicious code through compromised media processing pipelines. The attack surface is particularly concerning given GStreamer's widespread adoption in media processing applications, making this vulnerability potentially exploitable across numerous software products and operating systems. Organizations should prioritize patching affected systems immediately, as the vulnerability's remote exploitability and potential for privilege escalation make it a high-priority target for threat actors. The vulnerability's classification as ZDI-CAN-28839 indicates it has been recognized by security vendors and is likely to be included in upcoming security advisories and vulnerability management systems. Mitigation strategies should include implementing proper input validation, deploying network segmentation to limit exposure, and monitoring for suspicious media processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts.