CVE-2023-6603Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Process crash via unchecked HLS initialization result

Published Dec 31, 2024 · Updated Aug 21, 2025

NULL pointer dereference in FFmpeg 3.0 through 4.x allows remote attackers to crash the process via a crafted HLS playlist. During EXT-X-MAP handling in libavformat/hls.c, parse_playlist fails to check whether new_init_section returns NULL before accessing cur_init_section members. The crash is reachable when an instance accepts attacker-controlled HLS input without forcing a different input format, interrupting that FFmpeg process.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.56%
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 FFmpeg 3.0 through 4.x allows remote attackers to crash the process via a crafted HLS playlist. During EXT-X-MAP handling in libavformat/hls.c, parse_playlist fails to check whether new_init_section returns NULL before accessing cur_init_section members. The crash is reachable when an instance accepts attacker-controlled HLS input without forcing a different input format, interrupting that FFmpeg process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-6603
Published
Dec 31, 2024
Updated
Aug 21, 2025
Vendor
FFmpeg
Product
FFmpeg
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 31, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 21, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=3.0 <5.*

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

FFmpeg · FFmpegversion=3.0 <5.*

Published CVSS scores

7.5Fedora ProjectCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1499.004Endpoint Denial of Service: Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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