CVE-2026-18297

Code execution via unchecked Opus channel count

Published Aug 20, 2026 · Updated Aug 21, 2026

Buffer overflow in the Opus decoder in GStreamer gst-plugins-base before 1.28.5 allows attackers to execute code via crafted streams. In gst-plugins-base, the Opus decoder trusts the stream header's channel count and sizes memory operations on fixed 64-element arrays from that untrusted value, so inputs with more than 64 channels write past stack and heap bounds. Exploitation requires local processing of attacker-supplied media, typically by opening a file or visiting a page that feeds a malicious Opus stream into a GStreamer-based application; observed impact includes crashes and memory corruption, with code execution plausible in the calling process.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.24%
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 the Opus decoder in GStreamer gst-plugins-base before 1.28.5 allows attackers to execute code via crafted streams. In gst-plugins-base, the Opus decoder trusts the stream header's channel count and sizes memory operations on fixed 64-element arrays from that untrusted value, so inputs with more than 64 channels write past stack and heap bounds. Exploitation requires local processing of attacker-supplied media, typically by opening a file or visiting a page that feeds a malicious Opus stream into a GStreamer-based application; observed impact includes crashes and memory corruption, with code execution plausible in the calling process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-18297
Published
Aug 20, 2026
Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Vendor
GStreamer Project
Product
GStreamer
Classifications
CWE-121, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 20, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 21, 2026Record 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=e3d33ecb5765f11c85b5ba739a0f1cf2bea81abe

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

GStreamer Project · GStreamerversion=e3d33ecb5765f11c85b5ba739a0f1cf2bea81abe

Published CVSS scores

7.8ZDICVSS:3.0/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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-121Stack-based 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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