CVE-2014-9628

Code execution via undersized MP4 string box

Published Jan 24, 2020 · Updated Aug 6, 2024

Buffer overflow in VLC media player before 2.1.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through a crafted MP4 string box. MP4_ReadBox_String accepts a box size below the eight-byte header, so subtracting eight underflows the memcpy length after a zero-byte allocation. Exploitation requires a user to open a specially crafted file or stream; successful memory corruption can crash VLC or run code in its process.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability2.16%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Buffer overflow in VLC media player before 2.1.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through a crafted MP4 string box. MP4_ReadBox_String accepts a box size below the eight-byte header, so subtracting eight underflows the memcpy length after a zero-byte allocation. Exploitation requires a user to open a specially crafted file or stream; successful memory corruption can crash VLC or run code in its process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2014-9628
Published
Jan 24, 2020
Updated
Aug 6, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-120, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 24, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 6, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.8NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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