CVE-2026-18298: GStreamer PNG File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
GStreamer PNG File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of GStreamer. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.
The specific flaw exists within the parsing of PNG files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-29581.
Affected Software
Remediation
Patch Available
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Does exploitation require the attacker to have local access or credentials?
No credentials are required, but exploitation requires user interaction. The target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file containing the crafted PNG data.
What level of access could successful exploitation provide?
An attacker can execute arbitrary code in the context of the current process. The resulting access is therefore limited to the privileges of the process that parses the malicious PNG file.
What input should be treated as potentially malicious?
PNG files from untrusted sources are the relevant attack vector. The flaw is triggered by insufficient validation of user-supplied length data before it is copied into a heap-based buffer.