# CVE-2023-48702: Jellyfin Possible Remote Code Execution via custom FFmpeg binary

> A malicious administrator can execute arbitrary code on the Jellyfin server by specifying a UNC path to an executable in the media encoder configuration.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 13 Dec 2023
- **Updated:** 2 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rr9h-w522-cvmr

## What is CVE-2023-48702?

CVE-2023-48702 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in jellyfin, published on 13 Dec 2023. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Jellyfin is a system for managing and streaming media. Prior to version 10.8.13, the `/System/MediaEncoder/Path` endpoint executes an arbitrary file using `ProcessStartInfo` via the `ValidateVersion` function. A malicious administrator can setup a network share and supply a UNC path to `/System/MediaEncoder/Path` which points to an executable on the network share, causing Jellyfin server to run the executable in the local context. The endpoint was removed in version 10.8.13.

Weakness: CWE-77 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-48702?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Jellyfin Jellyfin.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-48702?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-48702 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-48702 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-48702 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in jellyfin

- [CVE-2026-35031](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-35031/): Jellyfin: Potential RCE via subtitle upload path traversal + .strm chain (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2026-31852](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-31852/): Jellyfin Possible Organization/Secret Compromise from dangerous CI implementation (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2026-35033](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-35033/): Jellyfin: Potential SSRF + Arbitrary file read via stream argument injection (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2023-30627](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-30627/): jellyfin-web has a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability in devices.js (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2023-30626](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-30626/): Jellyfin vulnerable to directory traversal and file write causing arbitrary code execution (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-48702 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-48702 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in jellyfin, published on 13 Dec 2023. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-48702 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: jellyfin. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-48702/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-48702/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-48702
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-48702
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-48702

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-48702/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.