CVE-2026-53414 in Workplace
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2026
Missing bounds check in the annotator function of Zoom Clients allows buffer over-read, which may allow a meeting participant to conduct a denial of service on another participant via network access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2026
This vulnerability represents a classic buffer over-read condition within the Zoom client software that stems from inadequate input validation in the annotator function. The flaw occurs when the application fails to properly verify array bounds before accessing memory locations, creating an opportunity for malicious data manipulation that can result in unauthorized denial of service attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the annotator function processing user input without sufficient boundary checking mechanisms. When a meeting participant crafts malicious input data that exceeds expected buffer limits, the application continues to read beyond allocated memory boundaries, potentially causing system instability or crashes. This type of flaw falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-129 which specifically addresses insufficient bounds checking in array accesses.
From an operational perspective, the impact extends beyond simple system crashes to encompass broader meeting disruption scenarios where one participant can intentionally target another user's client application. The vulnerability requires only network access to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged remotely without physical presence or complex attack vectors. This capability aligns with tactics described in the attack pattern taxonomy under techniques that involve denial of service through resource exhaustion or application instability.
The security implications of this vulnerability extend beyond immediate service disruption to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks if combined with other exploitation techniques. Attackers could leverage the buffer over-read condition as a stepping stone for information disclosure or privilege escalation attempts, particularly if the vulnerable code path intersects with other memory management functions within the client application.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and bounds checking mechanisms throughout the annotator function implementation. Software vendors should deploy immediate patches that enforce strict array boundary verification before any memory access operations occur. Additionally, network segmentation approaches can help limit the scope of potential attacks by restricting direct communication between participants when such vulnerabilities exist. The recommended defensive measures align with industry best practices outlined in secure coding guidelines and emphasize proactive validation of all user-supplied inputs to prevent unauthorized memory access patterns that could compromise system integrity and availability.