CVE-2020-21596Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Decoder crash via out-of-bounds CABAC table read

Published Sep 16, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Global buffer overflow in libde265 1.0.4 allows remote attackers to crash a decoder by supplying a crafted H.265 file. During CABAC decoding, decode_CABAC_bit indexes beyond the 64-byte next_state_MPS lookup table in cabac.cc while processing malformed slice data. Exploitation requires an application using the library to decode the file; the demonstrated consequence is an AddressSanitizer-detected abort, not data disclosure or modification.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability1.49%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Global buffer overflow in libde265 1.0.4 allows remote attackers to crash a decoder by supplying a crafted H.265 file. During CABAC decoding, decode_CABAC_bit indexes beyond the 64-byte next_state_MPS lookup table in cabac.cc while processing malformed slice data. Exploitation requires an application using the library to decode the file; the demonstrated consequence is an AddressSanitizer-detected abort, not data disclosure or modification.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-21596
Published
Sep 16, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-120, T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 16, 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

6.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
4.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

Public exploit references

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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