CVE-2026-18298
Received Received - Intake

Heap-based Buffer Overflow in GStreamer PNG Parsing

Publication date: 2026-08-20

Last updated on: 2026-08-20

Assigner: Zero Day Initiative

Description
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.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-08-20
Last Modified
2026-08-20
Generated
2026-08-20
AI Q&A
2026-08-20
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-18298
EUVD
EUVD-2026-63447

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 3 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
gstreamer gstreamer *
gstreamer gstreamer to 2026-07-29 (exc)
gstreamer gstreamer From 2026-07-29 (inc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-122 A heap overflow condition is a buffer overflow, where the buffer that can be overwritten is allocated in the heap portion of memory, generally meaning that the buffer was allocated using a routine such as malloc().

Attack-Flow Graph

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Executive Summary

This is a heap-based buffer overflow in GStreamer's PNG file parsing. It occurs when the software fails to validate the length of user-supplied data before copying it to a heap buffer. Attackers can exploit this by tricking users into opening malicious PNG files or visiting malicious pages, allowing remote code execution on the affected system.

Detection Guidance

Detecting this vulnerability requires checking for outdated GStreamer versions that fail to validate PNG file data properly. Inspect installed GStreamer packages using commands like 'gst-inspect-1.0 --version' or 'apt list --installed | grep gstreamer' on Debian-based systems. Monitor for crashes or memory corruption when processing PNG files with GStreamer-based applications.

Impact Analysis

If you use GStreamer and open a malicious PNG file or visit a malicious page, attackers could execute arbitrary code on your system. This could lead to data theft, system compromise, or further network attacks. The impact depends on user interaction since exploitation requires opening a malicious file or page.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized data access or exfiltration, violating GDPR's data protection requirements or HIPAA's safeguards for protected health information. Organizations using GStreamer may face compliance breaches if exploited, potentially resulting in legal penalties or reputational damage.

Mitigation Strategies

Update GStreamer to the latest patched version immediately. Disable or restrict applications that use GStreamer for PNG processing until patched. Avoid opening untrusted PNG files or visiting suspicious websites. Implement network monitoring for unusual code execution patterns.

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