CVE-2026-47902 Overview
CVE-2026-47902 is an Uncontrolled Resource Consumption vulnerability [CWE-400] affecting Adobe's Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) Content Credentials libraries. The flaw exists in c2pa-web@0.7.1, c2pa-v0.80.1, and earlier versions. An attacker can submit crafted input that forces the affected component to exhaust system resources, producing an application denial-of-service condition.
The vulnerability requires local access and does not require authentication or user interaction. Successful exploitation impacts availability only, with no effect on confidentiality or integrity. Adobe published advisory APSB26-61 to address the issue.
Critical Impact
Local attackers can trigger a denial-of-service condition in applications consuming the C2PA SDK, halting Content Credentials processing and any dependent workflows.
Affected Products
- CAI Content Credentials c2pa-web@0.7.1 and earlier
- CAI Content Credentials c2pa-v0.80.1 and earlier
- Adobe applications and integrations bundling the affected C2PA libraries
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-09 - CVE-2026-47902 published to NVD
- 2026-06-10 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-47902
Vulnerability Analysis
The affected libraries implement the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) specification, which embeds and verifies cryptographic provenance manifests in media assets. The vulnerable code paths process untrusted manifest data without enforcing bounds on resource usage. When an attacker supplies a crafted asset or manifest, the parser consumes excessive CPU, memory, or file handles until the host application becomes unresponsive.
The attack surface is local, meaning an attacker must deliver the malicious input to a process that loads the SDK. This includes desktop applications that open user-supplied media files and command-line tools invoked against attacker-controlled content. Because the C2PA libraries operate on inputs originating from external sources by design, any workflow that accepts third-party media is exposed.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or insufficient validation of structural limits within C2PA manifest parsing. The library does not cap allocations, iteration counts, or recursion depth derived from attacker-controlled fields. Adobe's advisory APSB26-61 documents the affected components and the fixed versions.
Attack Vector
Exploitation occurs when a vulnerable application processes a malicious media file containing a hostile C2PA manifest. The attacker delivers the file through any channel the target application accepts, including drag-and-drop, command-line invocation, or batch ingestion pipelines. Processing the file drives resource consumption to exhaustion, terminating or hanging the host process. No privileges or user interaction beyond opening the file are required.
Technical details are available in the Adobe Security Advisory APSB26-61.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-47902
Indicators of Compromise
- Application processes consuming abnormally high CPU or memory while handling C2PA-enabled media files
- Repeated crashes or hangs of tools linking against c2pa-web or c2pa-v0 libraries
- Media files containing oversized or malformed C2PA manifest structures submitted to ingestion pipelines
Detection Strategies
- Inventory binaries and web bundles to identify use of vulnerable c2pa-web@0.7.1 and c2pa-v0.80.1 versions
- Monitor process telemetry for sustained resource spikes correlated with media file parsing
- Alert on unexpected termination of services that handle Content Credentials verification
Monitoring Recommendations
- Track CPU, memory, and file handle ceilings on hosts running C2PA-enabled applications
- Log all media ingestion events including file source, size, and processing duration
- Review crash dumps and watchdog restarts on services that validate provenance manifests
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-47902
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade c2pa-web to a version newer than 0.7.1 and c2pa-v0 to a version newer than 0.80.1 as listed in APSB26-61
- Audit applications and pipelines that embed the C2PA SDK and prioritize patching internet-exposed ingestion services
- Restrict acceptance of unsigned or unverified third-party media in automated workflows until patches are applied
Patch Information
Adobe addressed the vulnerability in updated C2PA library releases. Refer to the Adobe Security Advisory APSB26-61 for the fixed version numbers and download locations. Rebuild and redeploy any applications statically linking the affected libraries.
Workarounds
- Enforce per-process resource limits using ulimit, cgroups, or platform sandboxing on hosts that parse C2PA assets
- Run Content Credentials parsing in isolated worker processes with watchdog termination on excessive runtime
- Pre-filter media inputs to reject files exceeding expected size or with malformed C2PA manifest headers
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
