# CVE-2026-120244: FFmpeg 2.1 through 9.0.2 Uninitialized Memory Leak via PCX Decoder

Status: published. Published: 2026-11-01. Updated: 2026-11-02.

FFmpeg 2.1 through 9.0.2 contains a use of uninitialized resource vulnerability in the PCX decoder that allows attackers to leak heap memory through truncated RLE scanlines. Attackers can craft a PCX image whose RLE data ends early, causing pcx_decode_frame() to copy uninitialized av_malloc() buffer contents into visible decoded pixels.

## Remediation

- fix: The reporting source identifies this reference as a patch. Check the advisory for affected versions and supported release branches. (source: CNA: VulnCheck) — https://github.com/FFmpeg/FFmpeg/commit/ecd5dfc308a164757e7f25b1afefd8db21b43cf9

## Affected products and versions

- FFmpeg / FFmpeg (ffmpeg/ffmpeg): ≥ 2.1; ≤ 9.0.2 (affected, custom). Source: CNA: VulnCheck

## Severity and prioritization

- CVSS 4.0: 6.8 (medium); CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N; source: CNA: VulnCheck

- CVSS 3.1: 5.5 (medium); CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N; source: CNA: VulnCheck

- CVSS 4.0: 6.8 (medium); CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X; source: NVD: disclosure@vulncheck.com

- CVSS 3.1: 5.5 (medium); CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N; source: NVD: disclosure@vulncheck.com

- CISA KEV: No listing in collected sources

- EPSS: 0.12% as of 2026-11-02; percentile 2.09%

- SSVC: exploitation none; automatable no; technical impact partial; source ADP: CISA-ADP

- Weaknesses: CWE-908

## Exploit evidence

No exploit evidence in collected sources. This is not proof of no exploitation.

## References

- https://code.ffmpeg.org/FFmpeg/FFmpeg/pulls/24868 (CNA: VulnCheck; issue-tracking)

- https://github.com/FFmpeg/FFmpeg/commit/ecd5dfc308a164757e7f25b1afefd8db21b43cf9 (CNA: VulnCheck; patch)

- https://github.com/FFmpeg/FFmpeg/blob/n9.0.2/libavcodec/pcx.c#L45-L59 (CNA: VulnCheck; technical-description)

- https://github.com/FFmpeg/FFmpeg (CNA: VulnCheck; product)

- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/ffmpeg-2.1-through-9.0.2-uninitialized-memory-leak-via-pcx-decoder (CNA: VulnCheck; third-party-advisory)

- https://code.ffmpeg.org/FFmpeg/FFmpeg/pulls/24868 (disclosure@vulncheck.com)

- https://github.com/FFmpeg/FFmpeg (disclosure@vulncheck.com)

- https://github.com/FFmpeg/FFmpeg/blob/n9.0.2/libavcodec/pcx.c#L45-L59 (disclosure@vulncheck.com)

- https://github.com/FFmpeg/FFmpeg/commit/ecd5dfc308a164757e7f25b1afefd8db21b43cf9 (disclosure@vulncheck.com)

- https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/ffmpeg-2.1-through-9.0.2-uninitialized-memory-leak-via-pcx-decoder (disclosure@vulncheck.com)

## Provenance

- CNA: VulnCheck: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-120244; retrieved 2026-11-02; source updated 2026-11-02

- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-120244; retrieved 2026-11-02; source updated 2026-11-01

- FIRST EPSS: https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-120244; retrieved 2026-11-02; source updated Not reported

Revision: c601f00e74ed836fdaf0a623e16cdcb9fe41647d412e1bb1c13843d82f4e470f

Canonical: https://y2.dev/cve/CVE-2026-120244

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