CVE-2026-79522 in GPAC
Summary
by MITRE • 09/09/2026
An out-of-bounds read in the gf_dm_get_chunk_data function (src/utils/downloader.c) of GPAC v26.07.0 allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) via sending a crafted HTTP request. Fixed in 2fd5a06ab226767900fd86edb5a1e8bfc1010640.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2026
The vulnerability identified as an out-of-bounds read within the GPAC media framework represents a critical memory safety flaw located in the gf_dm_get_chunk_data function found in src/utils/downloader.c of version 26.07.0. This specific component is responsible for retrieving data chunks during the download process, often triggered by HTTP requests that initiate or manage multimedia stream downloads. The core technical issue stems from a failure to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries before accessing memory locations. When an attacker crafts a malicious HTTP request with specifically manipulated parameters, they can cause the function to read beyond the allocated bounds of its internal data structures. This type of error is classified under CWE-125, which defines out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities where software reads data past the end or before the beginning of the intended buffer.
From an operational perspective, while out-of-bounds reads are often associated with information disclosure if the attacker can observe the returned memory contents, in this specific context involving a downloader utility within a media framework, the primary impact manifests as a Denial of Service. The application may crash due to segmentation faults or access violations when attempting to read invalid memory addresses. This results in the interruption of service for legitimate users relying on GPAC for media processing and streaming tasks. An attacker does not necessarily need high privileges to exploit this flaw; simply sending a crafted HTTP request is sufficient to trigger the vulnerability, making it accessible over network boundaries if the affected service is exposed.
The exploitation technique aligns with ATT&CK tactic T1499, specifically Endpoint Denial of Service via application exhaustion or crash mechanisms. By repeatedly sending these malformed requests, an adversary can sustain a denial-of-service condition against systems running vulnerable instances of GPAC. This disrupts availability, which is one of the three pillars of information security alongside confidentiality and integrity. The lack of robust input validation in the downloader module highlights a gap in secure coding practices regarding boundary checks for network-received data structures.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve upgrading to a patched version of GPAC where this issue has been resolved through commit 2fd5a06ab226767900fd86edb5a1e8bfc1010640. This fix likely implements proper bounds checking before memory access operations within the gf_dm_get_chunk_data function. For organizations unable to immediately patch, implementing network-level controls such as Web Application Firewalls can help detect and block anomalous HTTP requests that exhibit patterns consistent with buffer overflow or out-of-bounds exploitation attempts. Additionally, developers should review other areas of the codebase for similar input validation gaps, ensuring that all external inputs are rigorously validated against expected ranges before being used in array indexing or memory allocation logic to prevent recurrence of CWE-125 type vulnerabilities.