CVE-2026-1416 is a vulnerability identified in the GPAC multimedia framework, specifically affecting versions 2.0 through 2.4.0. The issue resides in the DumpMovieInfo function within the applications/mp4box/filedump.c source file, where improper handling of input leads to a NULL pointer dereference. This flaw can be triggered by a local attacker with limited privileges, causing the application to crash due to dereferencing a NULL pointer. The vulnerability does not require user interaction or elevated privileges beyond local access, and it does not impact confidentiality or integrity directly but affects availability by causing denial of service. The vulnerability has a CVSS 4.8 score, indicating medium severity, with an attack vector limited to local access and low complexity. A patch identified by commit d45c264c20addf0c1cc05124ede33f8ffa800e68 has been released to remediate the issue. Although no known exploits are currently active in the wild, the public availability of the exploit code increases the risk of future attacks. The vulnerability is relevant for environments where GPAC is used for media file processing, particularly in local or multi-user systems where untrusted users may have local access.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2026-1416 is potential denial of service due to application crashes when processing crafted media files with GPAC. This can disrupt multimedia processing workflows, media streaming services, or any internal applications relying on GPAC's mp4box utility. While the vulnerability does not allow privilege escalation or data leakage, service availability interruptions could affect media companies, broadcasters, or any enterprises using GPAC for content packaging or analysis. In multi-user environments such as shared servers or developer workstations, a local attacker could exploit this flaw to cause instability or downtime. The lack of remote exploitability limits the threat surface but does not eliminate risk in environments where local access is possible. Given the public release of exploit code, there is an increased risk of opportunistic attacks targeting unpatched systems.

European organizations should immediately apply the patch identified by commit d45c264c20addf0c1cc05124ede33f8ffa800e68 to all GPAC installations running affected versions (2.0 through 2.4.0). Additionally, organizations should: 1) Restrict local access to systems running GPAC to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of local exploitation. 2) Implement strict access controls and monitoring on systems where GPAC is installed to detect unusual crashes or suspicious activity. 3) Consider sandboxing or containerizing GPAC processes to limit the impact of potential crashes. 4) Review and harden local user permissions to prevent unprivileged users from executing or manipulating GPAC utilities. 5) Conduct regular audits of installed software versions to ensure no outdated GPAC versions remain in production or development environments. 6) Educate system administrators and developers about the vulnerability and the importance of timely patching, especially given the public availability of exploit code.