CVE-2005-4048

CVE-2005-4048 is a high-severity vulnerability in Ffmpeg with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-119.

Key facts

• Severity: High (CVSS 2.0 base score 7.5)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 5% (91st percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-119
• Affected product: Ffmpeg
• Published: 2005-12-07
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Heap-based buffer overflow in the avcodec_default_get_buffer function (utils.c) in FFmpeg libavcodec 0.4.9-pre1 and earlier, as used in products such as (1) mplayer, (2) xine-lib, (3) Xmovie, and (4) GStreamer, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via small PNG images with palettes.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2005-4048?

Heap-based buffer overflow in the avcodec_default_get_buffer function (utils.c) in FFmpeg libavcodec 0.4.9-pre1 and earlier, as used in products such as (1) mplayer, (2) xine-lib, (3) Xmovie, and (4) GStreamer, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via small PNG images with palettes.

How severe is CVE-2005-4048?

CVE-2005-4048 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5, rated high severity.

Is CVE-2005-4048 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 5% (91st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2005-4048?

CVE-2005-4048 primarily affects Ffmpeg. In total, 5 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2005-4048?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2005-4048 published?

CVE-2005-4048 was published on 2005-12-07 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://article.gmane.org/gmane.comp.video.ffmpeg.devel/26558
• http://cvs.freedesktop.org/gstreamer/gst-ffmpeg/ChangeLog?rev=1.239&view=markup
• http://secunia.com/advisories/17892
• http://secunia.com/advisories/18066
• http://secunia.com/advisories/18087
• http://secunia.com/advisories/18107
• http://secunia.com/advisories/18400
• http://secunia.com/advisories/18739
• http://secunia.com/advisories/18746
• http://secunia.com/advisories/19114
• http://secunia.com/advisories/19192
• http://secunia.com/advisories/19272
• http://secunia.com/advisories/19279
• http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-1004
• http://www.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-1005
• http://www.gentoo.org/security/en/glsa/glsa-200601-06.xml
• http://www.gentoo.org/security/en/glsa/glsa-200602-01.xml
• http://www.gentoo.org/security/en/glsa/glsa-200603-03.xml
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDKSA-2005:228
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDKSA-2005:229
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDKSA-2005:230
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDKSA-2005:231
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDKSA-2005:232
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/15743
• http://www.us.debian.org/security/2006/dsa-992
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2005/2770
• http://www1.mplayerhq.hu/cgi-bin/cvsweb.cgi/ffmpeg/libavcodec/utils.c.diff?r1=1.161&r2=1.162&cvsroot=FFMpeg
• http://www1.mplayerhq.hu/cgi-bin/cvsweb.cgi/ffmpeg/libavcodec/utils.c?rev=1.162&content-type=text/x-cvsweb-markup&cvsroot=FFMpeg
• https://usn.ubuntu.com/230-1/
• https://usn.ubuntu.com/230-2/

Affected products (5)

• cpe:2.3:a:ffmpeg:ffmpeg:0.4.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ffmpeg:ffmpeg:0.4.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ffmpeg:ffmpeg:0.4.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ffmpeg:ffmpeg:0.4.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:ffmpeg:ffmpeg:cvs:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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