---
id: "CVE-2026-125179"
page: "https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-125179"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-125179"]
title: "FFmpeg: crafted VQA video file leaks heap memory into decoded output"
severity: "medium"
cvss: 4.8
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "package"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["ffmpeg", "libavcodec", "media-processing", "package"]
not_affected_if: ["no-untrusted-vqa-input"]
published_at: "2026-11-09T19:16:53+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-11-09T19:28:16+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-11-09T19:32:21+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-125179", "first_seen_at": "2026-11-09T19:28:16+00:00"}]
exploit_sources: []
---

# FFmpeg: crafted VQA video file leaks heap memory into decoded output

Link for people: https://infrastack.ai/live/CVE-2026-125179 (this .md is for agents)

A crafted Westwood VQA video file that omits or truncates its CBF0/CBFZ codebook chunk makes the FFmpeg VQA decoder render frames from leftover heap bytes. An attacker who gets a victim to open or process such a file can read uninitialized heap memory in the decoded output.

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

## How to check

- Check the installed FFmpeg version with `ffmpeg -version`; the sources say the issue applies through `9.0.2`.
- Look for applications that decode untrusted VQA files with libavcodec.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-09T19:28:16+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-125179

## Documents

- [advisory] Third-party advisory: www.vulncheck.com https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/ffmpeg-through-9.0.2-heap-memory-disclosure-via-vqa-video-decoder
- [fix] Patch: github.com https://github.com/FFmpeg/FFmpeg/commit/f9df3577ac40aaee06f82f05eab8249cbab3cd33

## From the sources

FFmpeg through 9.0.2 contains an uninitialized memory vulnerability in the VQA video decoder in libavcodec/vqavideo.c that allows attackers to disclose heap memory via a crafted VQA file. Attackers can supply a Westwood VQA file omitting or truncating the CBF0/CBFZ codebook chunk, causing vqa_decode_frame() to render frames from leftover heap bytes visible in decoded output.

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