CVE-2022-43039 is a medium-severity vulnerability identified in the GPAC multimedia framework, specifically in the function gf_isom_meta_restore_items_ref located in the source file /isomedia/meta.c. The vulnerability is characterized by a segmentation violation, which is a type of memory corruption issue classified under CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write). This flaw occurs when the function improperly handles memory references during the restoration of metadata items, leading to an invalid memory access that causes the application to crash. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, indicating a medium severity level. The vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H) reveals that the attack requires local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R). The scope remains unchanged (S:U), and the impact is solely on availability (A:H), with no confidentiality or integrity impact. No known exploits are reported in the wild, and no patches or vendor-specific product details are provided. The vulnerability could be triggered by a local user who interacts with the vulnerable GPAC version, potentially causing denial of service due to application crashes.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2022-43039 is a potential denial-of-service (DoS) condition affecting systems running the vulnerable GPAC multimedia framework. GPAC is used for multimedia processing, packaging, and streaming, often in media-related applications or embedded systems. Organizations relying on GPAC for media content delivery, digital broadcasting, or multimedia processing could experience service interruptions if an attacker or user triggers this segmentation violation. While the vulnerability does not compromise confidentiality or integrity, disruption of availability can affect media services, user experience, and operational continuity. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits the attack surface, reducing the likelihood of remote exploitation. However, insider threats or compromised user accounts could exploit this vulnerability to disrupt services. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests limited current risk, but organizations should remain vigilant, especially those in media, telecommunications, and digital content industries.

To mitigate CVE-2022-43039, European organizations should first identify all systems and applications utilizing the GPAC framework, particularly the affected development version 2.1-DEV-rev368-gfd054169b-master or similar. Since no official patch is currently linked, organizations should monitor GPAC project repositories and security advisories for updates or patches addressing this segmentation violation. In the interim, restrict local user access to systems running GPAC to trusted personnel only, and implement strict user interaction policies to prevent inadvertent triggering of the vulnerability. Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to isolate GPAC processes, minimizing the impact of crashes. Additionally, conduct regular memory and application stability monitoring to detect anomalous crashes indicative of exploitation attempts. For environments where GPAC is critical, consider deploying alternative multimedia frameworks or versions verified to be free of this vulnerability. Finally, maintain robust incident response plans to quickly address any denial-of-service incidents stemming from this issue.