CVE-2026-79113 in OpenAPV
Summary
by MITRE • 10/03/2026
OpenAPV before 1.1.1.0 has a read_bitstream heap-based buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2026
The vulnerability identified in OpenAPV versions prior to release 1.1.1.0 represents a critical memory safety failure within the application's bitstream processing logic, specifically manifesting as a heap-based buffer overflow during the execution of the read_bitstream function. This type of flaw typically arises when software allocates a fixed-size block of memory on the heap but subsequently writes data to that location without adequately verifying whether the incoming input stream exceeds the pre-allocated boundaries. In the context of OpenAPV, which is designed for video processing and streaming applications, this defect occurs during the parsing or decoding of specific bitstream formats where length fields are either missing, malformed, or maliciously crafted by an attacker to indicate a size significantly larger than the actual buffer capacity.
From a technical perspective, heap-based overflows are particularly dangerous because they corrupt data structures that manage dynamic memory allocation rather than just local variables on the stack. When the read_bitstream function processes a specially constructed bitstream with an oversized length parameter or corrupted header information, it writes beyond the allocated heap region into adjacent memory blocks. This corruption can overwrite critical metadata used by the memory allocator, such as size fields and pointers to other allocations, which fundamentally destabilizes the application's internal state. The immediate consequence is often an application crash due to segmentation faults when the program attempts to access invalid memory addresses or triggers assertion failures within debug builds of the software.
The operational impact extends far beyond simple denial of service through crashes. Because heap corruption can manipulate adjacent data structures, a sophisticated attacker may leverage this vulnerability to achieve arbitrary code execution on the target system. By carefully crafting the overflow payload, an adversary can overwrite function pointers or return addresses stored in nearby memory regions, thereby redirecting the flow of control within the application process. This capability allows for remote exploitation if OpenAPV is configured to accept untrusted input from network sources, potentially leading to full compromise of the underlying operating system and enabling further lateral movement within a compromised network infrastructure.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) category CWE-120, which describes buffer copies without checks for overflow along a copy path, specifically highlighting heap-based variants under CWE-787 when referring to out-of-bounds writes on the heap. Furthermore, in terms of tactical classification within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this flaw facilitates initial access and execution phases by allowing attackers to deploy custom payloads or establish persistent footholds through remote code execution techniques such as T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution or T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter if the compromised process spawns new processes.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate patching of OpenAPV to version 1.1.1.0 or later, where developers have presumably implemented rigorous bounds checking before performing memory writes based on input-derived lengths. In environments where upgrading is not immediately feasible, network-level controls should be employed to restrict access to the affected service from untrusted networks and to inspect incoming bitstream data for anomalies such as unusually large length fields that deviate from expected protocol specifications. Additionally, enabling heap protection mechanisms provided by modern operating systems, including Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) and Data Execution Prevention (DEP), can significantly raise the difficulty of successful exploitation by randomizing memory layouts and preventing code execution in data regions, although these measures serve as compensating controls rather than definitive fixes for the underlying coding error.