CVE-2026-46471 in GStreamer
Summary
by MITRE • 10/16/2026
An issue was discovered in GStreamer gst-plugins-good before 1.28.2. While parsing an MP4 file, the isomp4 plugin's qtdemux_parse_uuid function may read past the end of a heap-allocated buffer, allowing an attacker to disclose heap memory contents.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/16/2026
The vulnerability identified in GStreamer gst-plugins-good prior to version 1.28.2 represents a critical security flaw within the multimedia framework's handling of MP4 container files. Specifically, the defect resides in the qtdemux plugin, which is responsible for demultiplexing and parsing ISO Base Media File Format data. When processing certain crafted or malformed MP4 files, the function qtdemux_parse_uuid exhibits a heap-based buffer over-read condition. This issue arises during the execution of UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) box parsing logic, where the software fails to adequately validate boundary conditions before accessing memory locations relative to the allocated buffer size. Consequently, an attacker can exploit this flaw by supplying a specially constructed MP4 file that triggers out-of-bounds reads on the heap.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability is classified as CWE-125: Out-of-Bounds Read. The root cause lies in insufficient validation of data lengths and offsets during the parsing process. When qtdemux_parse_uuid processes input data, it calculates memory addresses based on provided metadata without ensuring that these calculated addresses remain within the bounds of the previously allocated heap buffer. This lack of rigorous boundary checking allows the application to read arbitrary bytes from adjacent memory regions. In modern operating systems and runtime environments, such as those utilizing GStreamer's C-based architecture, heap memory often contains sensitive information including pointers, cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other process-specific data structures that are not intended for public disclosure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant, primarily centering on the potential for Information Disclosure. By successfully exploiting this out-of-bounds read, an attacker can extract contents from the heap memory of the GStreamer application running on a victim's system. This capability enables several malicious outcomes depending on the context in which GStreamer is deployed. If used within a web browser via plugins or extensions, it could lead to cross-site scripting precursors or data leakage across tabs if same-origin policies are bypassed through side-channel techniques. In standalone applications such as media players or streaming clients, successful exploitation allows an attacker to dump sensitive memory contents, which may include authentication credentials stored in memory, private keys used for encryption, or internal state information that aids further attacks like heap spraying or arbitrary code execution attempts by mapping the application's memory layout.
This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005: Data from Local System, specifically under the sub-technique of data staged locally before exfiltration. The attacker leverages the local system resources to gather intelligence that facilitates subsequent phases of an attack chain. While the immediate effect is information disclosure, such leaks often serve as reconnaissance steps for more severe compromises, including privilege escalation or remote code execution if combined with other vulnerabilities like use-after-free conditions common in complex parsers.
Mitigation strategies focus primarily on software updates and defensive coding practices. The most effective remediation is to upgrade GStreamer gst-plugins-good to version 1.28.2 or later, where the qtdemux_parse_uuid function has been patched to include proper bounds checking before accessing heap memory. For environments unable to update immediately, deploying input validation layers at the network perimeter can help filter out malformed MP4 files containing suspiciously large UUID box sizes or invalid offsets. Additionally, enabling Address Sanitizer (ASan) during development and testing phases helps detect such buffer over-reads early in the software lifecycle. Security teams should also monitor for unusual memory access patterns within GStreamer processes using runtime application self-protection tools to identify potential exploitation attempts in real-time.