CVE-2020-20451Network attack vector

Service interruption via leaked file options

Published May 25, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

A memory leak in FFmpeg 4.2 allows attackers to exhaust process memory and interrupt service through failed file-option parsing. The open_files function returns after parse_optgroup fails without calling uninit_options on the allocated per-file options, leaving those allocations unreleased. Exploitation requires an application to repeatedly submit failing option groups; the upstream patch does not establish a direct network protocol.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.35%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A memory leak in FFmpeg 4.2 allows attackers to exhaust process memory and interrupt service through failed file-option parsing. The open_files function returns after parse_optgroup fails without calling uninit_options on the allocated per-file options, leaving those allocations unreleased. Exploitation requires an application to repeatedly submit failing option groups; the upstream patch does not establish a direct network protocol.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-20451
Published
May 25, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-401, T1499
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 25, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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 vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.0NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-401Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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