CVE-2026-56711

Deferred Deferred - Pending Action

Heap Overflow in VLC Media Player via PNG Image Processing

Publication date: 2026-09-09

Last updated on: 2026-09-18

Assigner: VulnCheck

Description

VLC media player versions 3.0.0 through 3.0.23 contain a memory-safety vulnerability reachable when processing crafted media. Exploitation requires user interaction and may result in application termination or code execution with the privileges of the VLC process.

CVSS Scores

EPSS Scores

Probability:
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Meta Information

Published

2026-09-09

Last Modified

2026-09-18

Generated

2026-09-29

AI Q&A

2026-09-10

EPSS Evaluated

2026-09-27

NVD

CVE-2026-56711

EUVD

EUVD-2026-74906

Affected Vendors & Products

Vendor	Product	Version / Range
videolan	vlc	-
videolan	vlc_media_player	3.0.0
videolan	vlc_media_player	3.0.23

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE

KEV

CWE ID	Description
CWE-787	The product writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.
CWE-190	The product performs a calculation that can produce an integer overflow or wraparound when the logic assumes that the resulting value will always be larger than the original value. This occurs when an integer value is incremented to a value that is too large to store in the associated representation. When this occurs, the value may become a very small or negative number.

Attack-Flow Graph

Executive Summary

This vulnerability is a heap out-of-bounds write in VLC media player caused by an integer overflow during picture buffer allocation. VLC uses 32-bit arithmetic to calculate buffer sizes, which can wrap around before being converted to a larger size_t type. The overflow check fails because it uses 64-bit arithmetic, allowing the wrapped value to pass validation. A crafted PNG file with large declared dimensions triggers this flaw, causing the decoder to write beyond the allocated buffer using attacker-controlled data.

Detection Guidance

Detecting this vulnerability requires checking the installed VLC version and monitoring for suspicious PNG file processing. Use 'vlc --version' to verify if your VLC version is between 3.0.0 and 3.0.23. Inspect network traffic for PNG files with unusually large dimensions being processed by VLC.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, crash the application, or cause denial of service by exploiting a maliciously crafted PNG file. Opening the file directly or through a playlist entry is sufficient to trigger the issue, with no special settings required. The impact includes potential system compromise if the attacker gains control of the execution flow.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could potentially impact compliance with GDPR and HIPAA by enabling arbitrary code execution or denial of service through maliciously crafted PNG files. If exploited, it may lead to unauthorized data access, modification, or disclosure, violating confidentiality and integrity requirements under these regulations.

Mitigation Strategies

Immediately update VLC to the latest patched version. If updating is not possible, avoid opening untrusted PNG files or media containing PNG frames in VLC. Disable automatic media playback in VLC settings to reduce exposure.

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