CVE-2020-23331Network attack vector

Process crash via null descriptor dereference

Published Aug 17, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

NULL pointer dereference in Bento4 06c39d9 allows context-dependent attackers to crash mp42aac by processing a crafted MP4 file. AP4_DescriptorListWriter::Action dereferences a null AP4_Descriptor while AP4_DecoderConfigDescriptor::WriteFields serializes a malformed descriptor list. The attacker must cause mp42aac to process the malformed media; the demonstrated consequence is a process crash, with no control-flow effect reported.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.24%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in Bento4 06c39d9 allows context-dependent attackers to crash mp42aac by processing a crafted MP4 file. AP4_DescriptorListWriter::Action dereferences a null AP4_Descriptor while AP4_DecoderConfigDescriptor::WriteFields serializes a malformed descriptor list. The attacker must cause mp42aac to process the malformed media; the demonstrated consequence is a process crash, with no control-flow effect reported.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-23331
Published
Aug 17, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-476
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 17, 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-476NULL Pointer Dereference

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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