CVE-2024-31581 – CVE-2024-31581 is an improper array index valid... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2024-31581?

CVE-2024-31581 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL). CVE-2024-31581 is an improper array index validation vulnerability in FFmpeg's H.266 video codec parser that allows attackers to trigger undefined behavior, potentially leading to crashes or arbitrary code execution. This affects FFmpeg version n6.1 and systems using this version for video processing. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous due to its high CVSS score of 9.8 and potential for remote exploitation.

📋 TL;DR

CVE-2024-31581 is an improper array index validation vulnerability in FFmpeg's H.266 video codec parser that allows attackers to trigger undefined behavior, potentially leading to crashes or arbitrary code execution. This affects FFmpeg version n6.1 and systems using this version for video processing. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous due to its high CVSS score of 9.8 and potential for remote exploitation.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

FFmpeg

Versions: n6.1 (specifically vulnerable version)

Operating Systems: Linux, Windows, macOS, BSD - any OS running FFmpeg

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Any application or service using FFmpeg n6.1 for H.266 video processing is vulnerable. This includes media servers, video editing software, web applications, and streaming services.

📦 What is this software?

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Remote code execution leading to complete system compromise, data theft, or ransomware deployment.

🟠

Likely Case

Application crash leading to denial of service, with potential for memory corruption that could be leveraged for code execution.

🟢

If Mitigated

Application crash with limited impact if proper sandboxing and privilege separation are implemented.

🌐 Internet-Facing: HIGH - FFmpeg is commonly used in web applications for video processing, making internet-facing systems vulnerable to remote attacks.

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM - Internal systems using FFmpeg for video processing are vulnerable, but attack surface is reduced compared to internet-facing systems.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ⚠️ Yes

Weaponized: LIKELY

Unauthenticated Exploit: ⚠️ Yes

Complexity: MEDIUM

The vulnerability is in a widely used library with public technical details available. Attackers can craft malicious H.266 video files to trigger the vulnerability without authentication.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: n6.1.1 and later

Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/ffmpeg/ffmpeg/commit/ce0c178a408d43e71085c28a47d50dc939b60196

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Update FFmpeg to version n6.1.1 or later. 2. For Linux systems: Use package manager (apt, yum, dnf) to update. 3. For compiled installations: Download latest source from ffmpeg.org and recompile. 4. Restart all services using FFmpeg.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable H.266 codec support

all

Temporarily disable H.266/HEVC codec processing in FFmpeg configuration

Recompile FFmpeg with --disable-decoder=hevc --disable-demuxer=hevc flags

Input validation for video files

all

Implement strict validation of video file inputs before processing with FFmpeg

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Isolate FFmpeg processes using containerization or sandboxing with minimal privileges
Implement network segmentation to restrict access to FFmpeg services

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check FFmpeg version: ffmpeg -version | grep 'FFmpeg version' and verify if it's n6.1

Check Version:

ffmpeg -version | grep 'FFmpeg version'

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify FFmpeg version is n6.1.1 or later: ffmpeg -version | grep 'FFmpeg version'

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

FFmpeg segmentation faults
Memory access violation errors
Unexpected FFmpeg process termination

Network Indicators:

Unusual video file uploads to processing endpoints
Multiple failed video processing attempts

SIEM Query:

process.name:"ffmpeg" AND (event.action:"segmentation_fault" OR event.outcome:"failure")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2024-31581

CVSS v3 Score: 9.8 (CRITICAL)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CWE: CWE-129

Published: April 17, 2024

Last Updated: November 4, 2025

🔗 References

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📋 TL;DR

💻 Affected Systems

📦 What is this software?

Fedora by Fedoraproject

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Fedora by Fedoraproject

Ffmpeg by Ffmpeg

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

Worst Case

Likely Case

If Mitigated

🎯 Exploit Status

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Instructions:

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable H.266 codec support

Input validation for video files

🧯 If You Can't Patch

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check Version:

Verify Fix Applied:

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Network Indicators:

SIEM Query:

📊 Metadata

🔗 References

📤 Share & Export

🔗 Related Vulnerabilities