# CVE-2023-6603: Ffmpeg: null pointer dereference in ffmpeg hls parsing

> A maliciously crafted HLS playlist can trigger a null pointer dereference in FFmpeg, causing a denial of service.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 31 Dec 2024
- **Updated:** 21 Aug 2025
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2023-6603, GHSA-gxvx-w63c-jprw, JLSEC-2025-143, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-6603, USN-7890-1

## What is CVE-2023-6603?

CVE-2023-6603 is a high-severity vulnerability in Ffmpeg Ffmpeg, published on 31 Dec 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A flaw was found in FFmpeg's HLS playlist parsing. This vulnerability allows a denial of service via a maliciously crafted HLS playlist that triggers a null pointer dereference during initialization.

Weakness: CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-6603?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ffmpeg Ffmpeg.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-6603?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-6603 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-6603 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Ffmpeg Ffmpeg

- [CVE-2013-0864](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-0864/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2013-0872](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-0872/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2013-0873](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-0873/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2013-4265](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-4265/): Null dereference in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2011-3937](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-3937/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-6603 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-6603 is a high-severity vulnerability in Ffmpeg Ffmpeg, published on 31 Dec 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-6603 exists.

Affected product: Ffmpeg Ffmpeg. 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-2023-6603/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6603/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-6603
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-6603
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-6603

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6603/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.