CVE-2024-24266 is a Use-After-Free (UAF) vulnerability identified in gpac version 2.2.1, specifically within the dasher_configure_pid function located in the source file /src/filters/dasher.c. A Use-After-Free vulnerability occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed, potentially leading to undefined behavior such as crashes, memory corruption, or arbitrary code execution. In this case, the vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or integrity directly but impacts availability, as indicated by the CVSS vector. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network without requiring any privileges or user interaction (CVSS vector: AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N). This means an attacker can trigger the vulnerability simply by sending crafted data to a vulnerable gpac instance. gpac is an open-source multimedia framework used for packaging, streaming, and playing multimedia content, often employed in media processing pipelines and streaming servers. The vulnerability's presence in the dasher filter component suggests it could be triggered during media processing tasks involving specific PID (Packet Identifier) configurations. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the high CVSS score of 7.5 reflects the potential for significant disruption, particularly denial-of-service conditions due to application crashes or instability. The lack of a patch link indicates that a fix may not yet be publicly available, increasing the urgency for organizations using gpac 2.2.1 to apply mitigations or monitor for updates. The CWE-416 classification confirms the nature of the vulnerability as a classic Use-After-Free issue, which is a common and dangerous memory management flaw in C/C++ applications.

For European organizations utilizing gpac 2.2.1 in their media processing infrastructure, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to service availability. Media streaming platforms, broadcasters, content delivery networks, and any enterprise relying on gpac for multimedia workflows could experience service interruptions if exploited. Given the remote and unauthenticated nature of the exploit, attackers could cause denial-of-service conditions, leading to downtime, degraded user experience, and potential revenue loss. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise data confidentiality or integrity, the disruption of media services can impact business continuity and customer trust. Additionally, if gpac is integrated into larger systems, the instability caused by this vulnerability could cascade, affecting dependent services. European organizations in sectors such as media, telecommunications, and digital content distribution are particularly at risk. Moreover, the absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high severity score suggests that attackers may develop exploits in the near future.

1. Immediate mitigation involves restricting network exposure of gpac services to trusted networks only, using firewalls or network segmentation to limit potential attack vectors. 2. Monitor gpac-related processes for unusual crashes or instability that may indicate exploitation attempts. 3. Employ runtime protections such as AddressSanitizer or similar memory error detection tools during development or testing phases to identify and mitigate memory corruption issues. 4. Stay updated with official gpac project communications and security advisories for patches addressing CVE-2024-24266. 5. If feasible, consider temporarily disabling or isolating the dasher filter component until a patch is available, especially if it is not critical to current operations. 6. Implement robust logging and intrusion detection systems to detect anomalous media processing requests that could exploit this vulnerability. 7. Conduct code audits or security reviews of custom integrations involving gpac to identify and remediate potential exploitation paths. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on network-level controls, component isolation, and proactive monitoring tailored to the nature of the vulnerability and the affected software.