Description

Buffer Overflow vulnerability in GPAC c2dee3aff638cd96f9617ac5b17dc2868cd90ef3 allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code via the j2kdec_process() function. Fixed in 9a253a07fd3f6b48022bba74302bf39388dda859.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "7.8",
  "pubDate": "2026-09-09T20:20:21.747Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-09-09T20:20:21.747Z",
  "executiveSummary": "A buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the GPAC media framework, specifically within the j2kdec_process() function. This memory corruption flaw allows a remote attacker to achieve arbitrary code execution by supplying a specially crafted file to the affected library.\nThe vulnerability originates in version c2dee3aff638cd96f9617ac5b17dc2868cd90ef3. Because GPAC is a widely used multimedia library for processing various video and audio formats, successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise or application crashes.\nThe risk implication is critical, as it requires no authentication or specific user interaction beyond opening a malicious file. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary payloads within the security context of the process running the GPAC library, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, privilege escalation, or lateral movement within the host network.\nSystem administrators and developers are advised to verify their current version of GPAC and update to a version incorporating the fix identified by commit 9a253a07fd3f6b48022bba74302bf39388dda859 to remediate this memory safety risk.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability is a heap-based or stack-based buffer overflow located within the j2kdec_process() function of the GPAC codebase. This function is responsible for processing JPEG 2000 (j2k) encoded bitstreams. The flaw occurs due to insufficient bounds checking when handling input data packets during the decoding process.\nWhen the GPAC parser encounters a malicious JPEG 2000 stream, it fails to properly validate the dimensions or length of the data being processed before copying it into an internal memory buffer. This lack of validation allows an attacker to write data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, resulting in the corruption of adjacent memory structures.\nThe exploitation flow typically begins with the delivery of a malformed media file to a victim. Once the target application calls j2kdec_process() to handle the file, the underlying buffer overflow is triggered. By precisely controlling the contents of the overflow, an attacker can overwrite critical memory pointers, such as function pointers, return addresses, or data structures used for object management.\nBy overwriting a return address on the stack or a function pointer in the heap, the attacker can redirect the execution flow of the application to a location of their choosing, commonly referred to as code injection or return-oriented programming (ROP). This leads to the execution of arbitrary machine code with the privileges of the victim process.\nAffected components include the multimedia decoding logic within GPAC, specifically related to j2kdec_process(). This issue is particularly dangerous because multimedia decoders often operate with high privileges or within a web browser's sandboxed environment, potentially allowing the attacker to escape or manipulate the host application directly.\nNo authentication is required to trigger this vulnerability, as it is inherently tied to the processing of untrusted input. The exploit is executed as soon as the decoder attempts to render or process the malformed data packet. The post-exploitation impact includes full control over the execution context, allowing the attacker to exfiltrate sensitive files, install persistent malware, or manipulate media playback to hide malicious operations."
}