Description
In FFmpeg before 4.2, avcodec_open2 in libavcodec/utils.c allows a NULL pointer dereference and possibly unspecified other impact when there is no valid close function pointer.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | ffmpeg | 7:4.2.1-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | ffmpeg | 7:4.2.1-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | ffmpeg | 7:4.2.1-1 | — |
| Debian 10 | ffmpeg | 7:4.1.6-1~deb10u1 | DSA-4722-1 |
| Debian 9 | ffmpeg | 7:3.2.15-0+deb9u2 | DLA-2537-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | ffmpeg | 7:4.2.4-1ubuntu0.1 | USN-4431-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | ffmpeg | 7:3.4.8-0ubuntu0.2 | USN-4431-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | ffmpeg | 7:2.8.17-0ubuntu0.1 | USN-4431-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | libav | No fix yet | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP3 | ffmpeg | 3.4.2-11.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2322-1 |
| SLES 15 SP2 | ffmpeg | 3.4.2-11.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2322-1 |
| SLES 15 SP1 | ffmpeg | 3.4.2-4.34.2 | SUSE-SU-2021:2929-1 |
| SLES 15 | ffmpeg | 3.4.2-4.34.2 | SUSE-SU-2021:2929-1 |
Show 8 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 15 SP1 | ffmpeg | 3.4.2-4.34.2 | SUSE-SU-2021:2929-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 | ffmpeg | 3.4.2-4.34.2 | SUSE-SU-2021:2929-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP1 | ffmpeg | 3.4.2-4.34.2 | SUSE-SU-2021:2929-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 | ffmpeg | 3.4.2-4.34.2 | SUSE-SU-2021:2929-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.0 | ffmpeg | 3.4.2-4.34.2 | SUSE-SU-2021:2929-1 |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.0 | ffmpeg | 3.4.2-4.34.2 | SUSE-SU-2021:2929-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.0 | ffmpeg | 3.4.2-4.34.2 | SUSE-SU-2021:2929-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 6 | ffmpeg | 3.4.2-4.34.2 | SUSE-SU-2021:2929-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap 15.3 | ffmpeg | 3.4.2-11.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2021:2322-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | ffmpeg | 4.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | ffmpeg | 4.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | ffmpeg +1 | 4.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | ffmpeg +1 | 4.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | ffmpeg +1 | 4.2-r0 | — |
Show 10 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | ffmpeg +1 | 4.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | ffmpeg +1 | 4.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | ffmpeg +1 | 4.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | ffmpeg +1 | 4.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | ffmpeg | 4.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | ffmpeg | 4.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | ffmpeg | 4.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.12 | ffmpeg | 4.2-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.10 | ffmpeg | 4.1.5-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.9 | ffmpeg | 4.0.6-r0 | — |
Advisories 6
- USN-4431-1 ffmpeg vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 27, 2026
- DSA-4722-1 ffmpeg - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-2537-1 ffmpeg - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2021:2929-1 Security update for ffmpeg SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2021:2322-1 Security update for ffmpeg SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2021:2322-1 Security update for ffmpeg SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- https://github.com/FFmpeg/FFmpeg/commit/8df6884832ec413cf032dfaa45c23b1c7876670c
- https://bugs.chromium.org/p/oss-fuzz/issues/detail?id=15733
- GLSA-202003-65 vendor-advisory
- DSA-4722 vendor-advisory
- USN-4431-1 vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20210131 [SECURITY] [DLA 2537-1] ffmpeg security update mailing-list