CVE-2022-24902 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-400 (Uncontrolled Resource Consumption) affecting the tkVideoPlayer library developed by PaulleDemon. TkVideoPlayer is a Python library designed to facilitate video playback within tkinter applications. Versions prior to 2.0.0 of this library contain a flaw that can lead to uncontrolled memory consumption when processing video files. This excessive memory usage can degrade system performance, potentially causing slowdowns or crashes in applications that embed this library. The vulnerability arises because the library does not properly manage or limit resource allocation during video playback, allowing an attacker or a malformed video file to trigger excessive memory use. There are no known workarounds for this issue, but it has been addressed in version 2.0.0 and later, where proper resource management controls have been implemented to prevent such uncontrolled consumption. No exploits have been reported in the wild, indicating that while the vulnerability exists, it has not yet been actively leveraged by threat actors. The vulnerability does not require authentication or user interaction to be triggered if the vulnerable library is used to process untrusted video files, which could be delivered via network or local sources. The impact primarily affects the availability and performance of applications using tkVideoPlayer, potentially leading to denial of service conditions due to resource exhaustion.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability depends largely on the extent to which tkVideoPlayer is integrated into their software environments. Organizations using Python-based GUI applications that rely on tkinter and incorporate tkVideoPlayer for video playback may experience degraded application performance or crashes, which could disrupt business operations. This is particularly relevant for sectors that use custom or in-house software for multimedia processing, such as media companies, educational institutions, and software development firms. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise confidentiality or integrity, the availability impact could lead to operational downtime or reduced productivity. In critical infrastructure or service environments where video playback is part of monitoring or communication tools, this could translate into service interruptions. Since no exploits are currently known in the wild, the immediate risk is moderate, but unpatched systems remain vulnerable to potential future exploitation. The lack of workarounds means that patching is the only effective mitigation, emphasizing the need for timely updates.

The primary and most effective mitigation is to upgrade tkVideoPlayer to version 2.0.0 or later, where the vulnerability has been patched. Organizations should audit their software dependencies to identify any use of tkVideoPlayer versions prior to 2.0.0, including indirect dependencies in larger Python projects. For environments where immediate upgrading is not feasible, consider isolating or sandboxing applications that use the vulnerable library to limit the impact of potential resource exhaustion. Monitoring system memory usage and application performance metrics can help detect abnormal resource consumption early. Additionally, validate and sanitize all video inputs to the application to reduce the risk of processing malicious or malformed video files that could trigger the vulnerability. Incorporating runtime resource limits at the OS or container level (e.g., cgroups on Linux) can also help contain the impact of excessive memory usage. Finally, maintain awareness of updates from the vendor and security advisories to ensure timely application of patches.