CVE-2026-30998 Overview
An improper resource deallocation and closure vulnerability has been identified in the tools/zmqsend.c component of FFmpeg v8.0.1. This vulnerability allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) condition by supplying a specially crafted input file to the affected component. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-400 (Uncontrolled Resource Consumption), indicating that the application fails to properly release system resources during processing.
Critical Impact
Attackers can exploit this resource leak vulnerability to exhaust system resources, causing service unavailability for FFmpeg-based applications and services processing media files.
Affected Products
- FFmpeg v8.0.1
- FFmpeg installations using the zmqsend tool component
- Systems relying on ZeroMQ integration with FFmpeg
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-04-13 - CVE CVE-2026-30998 published to NVD
- 2026-04-13 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-30998
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability exists within the zmqsend.c source file, which is a utility tool included with FFmpeg for sending commands to a ZeroMQ endpoint. The core issue stems from improper resource deallocation and closure handling when the tool processes malformed or specially crafted input files. When triggered, the application fails to properly release allocated resources, leading to resource exhaustion.
The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction. While the vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, it can completely disrupt service availability. This makes it particularly concerning for production environments where FFmpeg is used for media processing pipelines or streaming services.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is improper resource management in the zmqsend.c component. Specifically, the code fails to properly deallocate and close resources (such as file handles, memory allocations, or ZeroMQ sockets) under certain error conditions or when processing malformed input. This results in resource leakage that accumulates over time or can be triggered rapidly through repeated exploitation attempts, ultimately exhausting available system resources.
Attack Vector
The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, allowing remote exploitation. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by:
- Crafting a malicious input file designed to trigger the improper resource handling code path
- Submitting the crafted file to a system running the vulnerable zmqsend tool
- Repeatedly triggering the vulnerability to cause progressive resource exhaustion
- Ultimately causing a Denial of Service condition when system resources are depleted
The vulnerability does not require any privileges or user interaction to exploit, making it accessible to unauthenticated remote attackers. However, no public exploits are currently available, and this vulnerability is not listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
The vulnerability manifests in the resource handling logic within the zmqsend utility. Technical details can be found in the FFmpeg ZMQSend source code and the detailed CVE analysis.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-30998
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual memory consumption growth in FFmpeg or zmqsend processes over time
- Increasing number of open file handles associated with FFmpeg processes
- System log entries indicating resource exhaustion or failed allocations
- Unexplained service degradation or crashes in media processing pipelines
Detection Strategies
- Monitor FFmpeg process resource utilization for abnormal memory or handle consumption patterns
- Implement file integrity monitoring for input files processed by FFmpeg utilities
- Deploy network intrusion detection rules to identify malformed media file submissions
- Track ZeroMQ socket lifecycle events for anomalous open/close ratios
Monitoring Recommendations
- Configure resource usage alerting thresholds for FFmpeg-related processes
- Implement centralized logging for all FFmpeg utility operations and errors
- Monitor system-wide resource metrics including available memory, file descriptors, and socket counts
- Review application logs for repeated error patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-30998
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all systems running FFmpeg v8.0.1 with the zmqsend tool component
- Restrict network access to systems running vulnerable FFmpeg installations where possible
- Implement input validation and sanitization for files processed by FFmpeg utilities
- Consider temporarily disabling the zmqsend tool if not required for operations
Patch Information
Organizations should monitor the official FFmpeg project for security patches addressing this vulnerability. Refer to the FFmpeg project resources for updates and the GitHub repository for source code changes. When a patch becomes available, prioritize deployment based on exposure level and criticality of affected systems.
Workarounds
- Implement resource limits (ulimit) for FFmpeg processes to contain resource exhaustion impact
- Deploy input file validation to reject potentially malicious or malformed files before processing
- Use process isolation or containerization to limit the blast radius of potential exploitation
- Configure automated process restart policies to recover from DoS conditions
- Restrict access to the zmqsend utility to trusted users and systems only
# Configuration example - Resource limits for FFmpeg processes
# Add to /etc/security/limits.conf or systemd service unit
# Limit maximum open files per process
ulimit -n 1024
# Limit maximum memory usage (in KB)
ulimit -v 2097152
# Example systemd service override for FFmpeg services
# [Service]
# LimitNOFILE=1024
# MemoryMax=2G
# Restart=on-failure
# RestartSec=5
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
