CVE-2022-38863: Certain The MPlayer Project products are vulnerable to Buffer Overflow via function mp_getbits() of libmpdemux

Routine

MEDIUM 5.5WATCHLISTDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2022-38863 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.5) affecting mencoder, mplayer, debian linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Certain The MPlayer Project products are vulnerable to Buffer Overflow via function mp_getbits() of libmpdemux/mpeg_hdr.c which affects mencoder and mplayer. This affects mecoder SVN-r38374-13.0.1 and mplayer SVN-r38374-13.0.1.

Why this priority

Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.5 (Medium)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	0.4% (top 70%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-787
Published	2022-09-15
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: debian · mplayerhq

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2022-09-15 15:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 04:57 UTCUpdated Record last modified

mplayerhq mencoder DOWNGRADE

Affected: svn-r38374-13.0.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before svn-r38374-13.0.1

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy mencoder || rpm -q mencoder || mencoder --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before svn-r38374-13.0.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison mencoder sudo apt install mencoder=<VERSION_BEFORE_svn-r38374-13.0.1> sudo apt-mark hold mencoder

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list mencoder sudo dnf downgrade mencoder-<VERSION_BEFORE_svn-r38374-13.0.1> sudo dnf versionlock add mencoder

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

mplayerhq mplayer DOWNGRADE

Affected: svn-r38374-13.0.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before svn-r38374-13.0.1

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy mplayer || rpm -q mplayer || mplayer --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before svn-r38374-13.0.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison mplayer sudo apt install mplayer=<VERSION_BEFORE_svn-r38374-13.0.1> sudo apt-mark hold mplayer

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list mplayer sudo dnf downgrade mplayer-<VERSION_BEFORE_svn-r38374-13.0.1> sudo dnf versionlock add mplayer

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 10.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 10.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2022-38863?

mencoder: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; mplayer: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2022-38863 being exploited?

CVE-2022-38863 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2022-38863 affect?

CVE-2022-38863 affects mencoder, mplayer, debian linux. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.5). Certain The MPlayer Project products are vulnerable to Buffer Overflow via function mp_getbits() of libmpdemux/mpeg_hdr.c which affects mencoder and mplayer. This affects mecoder SVN-r38374-13.0.1 and mplayer SVN-r38374-13.0.1.

How urgent is CVE-2022-38863?

Priority 37/100. Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Debian vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

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CVE-2022-38862 HIGH 7.8 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE Certain The MPlayer Project products are vulnerable to Buffer Overflow via function play() of libaf/af.c:639
CVE-2022-38860 MEDIUM 5.5 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE Certain The MPlayer Project products are vulnerable to Divide By Zero via function demux_open_avi() of libmpde

References

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