---
id: "CVE-2026-118689"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-118689"]
title: "OvenMediaEngine: crafted OVT packets stall connections and exhaust memory"
severity: "high"
cvss: 8.7
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "other"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["origin-edge", "other", "ovenmediaengine", "self-hosted", "streaming"]
not_affected_if: ["ovt-listener-disabled", "trusted-network-only"]
published_at: "2026-10-28T22:17:12+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-28T22:35:34+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-28T22:36:37+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-118689", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-28T22:35:34+00:00"}]
---

# OvenMediaEngine: crafted OVT packets stall connections and exhaust memory

OvenMediaEngine through 0.21.0 mishandles OVT packet headers in OvtPacket::LoadHeader(), so a payload_length above 32750 leaves the connection waiting indefinitely. An unauthenticated attacker who can reach the OVT listener can hold many connections open and grow buffered memory, disrupting origin-to-edge stream relay.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- Check the OvenMediaEngine version with the server's version output or package manager, and compare it against `0.21.0`.
- Check whether the OVT listener (origin-to-edge relay port) is exposed beyond trusted networks in the server configuration.

## Fix

- Upgrade OvenMediaEngine to a release later than `0.21.0`; the fixed version is unknown from the sources.
- Restrict the OVT listener to trusted origin and edge hosts with firewall rules until a fix is applied.

## Timeline

- 2026-10-28T22:35:34+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-118689

## From the sources

OvenMediaEngine through 0.21.0 contains a denial of service vulnerability in OvtPacket::LoadHeader() that allows unauthenticated attackers to stall connections by sending payload_length values above 32750. Attackers can send crafted OVT packets to the OVT listener to hold connections open indefinitely and accumulate buffered memory, disrupting origin-to-edge stream relay.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_