CVE-2022-43044 is a medium severity vulnerability identified in the GPAC multimedia framework, specifically in the function gf_isom_get_meta_item_info located in the /isomedia/meta.c source file. The vulnerability is classified as a segmentation violation, which is a type of memory corruption issue categorized under CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write). This occurs when the function improperly accesses memory, potentially leading to a crash or denial of service (DoS). 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), has low attack complexity (AC:L), does not require privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact is limited to availability (A:H), with no confidentiality or integrity impact. There are no known exploits in the wild, and no vendor or product details are specified, but the affected software is GPAC version 2.1-DEV-rev368-gfd054169b-master, a development build of the GPAC multimedia framework. The vulnerability could be triggered by a crafted media file or input that causes the function to access memory out of bounds, leading to a segmentation fault and application crash. Given the nature of GPAC as a multimedia framework used for media processing, playback, and streaming, this vulnerability could be exploited to disrupt services or applications relying on GPAC for media handling. However, the requirement for local access and user interaction limits the attack surface primarily to local users or scenarios where a user opens a malicious media file. No remote exploitation without user interaction is indicated.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2022-43044 is the potential disruption of services that utilize the GPAC multimedia framework for media processing or streaming. This could affect media companies, broadcasters, or any enterprise embedding GPAC in their multimedia applications. The denial of service caused by the segmentation violation could lead to application crashes, service downtime, or degraded user experience. Since confidentiality and integrity are not impacted, data breaches or unauthorized data modification are not concerns here. However, availability disruptions could affect business continuity, especially in media-heavy environments or critical communication systems relying on GPAC. The requirement for local access and user interaction means that remote exploitation is unlikely without social engineering or insider threat scenarios. European organizations should be aware of this vulnerability if they use GPAC in their software stacks, particularly in sectors such as media, telecommunications, and digital content delivery.

To mitigate CVE-2022-43044, European organizations should first identify any use of the GPAC multimedia framework within their environments, including embedded systems, media servers, and client applications. Since no official patch links are provided, organizations should monitor the GPAC project repositories and security advisories for updates or patches addressing this segmentation violation. In the interim, applying strict input validation and sandboxing techniques around media processing components can reduce risk. Restricting the opening or processing of untrusted or unauthenticated media files can prevent exploitation via crafted inputs. Employing application whitelisting and endpoint protection to limit execution of unauthorized media files is also recommended. Additionally, educating users about the risks of opening untrusted media files can reduce the likelihood of triggering the vulnerability. For development teams using GPAC, updating to the latest stable releases and recompiling with memory safety tools (e.g., AddressSanitizer) can help detect and prevent such issues. Finally, implementing robust monitoring and logging around media processing services can aid in early detection of crashes or anomalous behavior related to this vulnerability.