diff --git a/src/rtp.c b/src/rtp.c
index d60046c..06f755e 100644
--- a/src/rtp.c
+++ b/src/rtp.c
@@ -38,6 +38,12 @@ int rtp_get_payload(uint8_t *buf, int recv_len, uint8_t **payload, int *size, ui
     payloadstart = 12;                  /* basic RTP header length */
     payloadstart += (flags & 0x0F) * 4; /*CSRC headers*/
 
+    /* Validate CSRC headers don't exceed packet bounds */
+    if (unlikely(payloadstart > recv_len)) {
+      logger(LOG_DEBUG, "Malformed RTP packet: CSRC headers exceed packet size");
+      return -1;
+    }
+
     /* Extension header is uncommon in most RTP streams */
     if (unlikely(flags & 0x10)) { /*Extension header*/
       /* Validate extension header doesn't exceed packet bounds */
diff --git a/tests/test_invariant_rtp.c b/tests/test_invariant_rtp.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f26e7f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_invariant_rtp.c
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+#include <check.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+/* Import the RTP parsing function from the production code */
+extern int rtp_parse(const unsigned char *buf, int len, unsigned char **payload, int *payload_len);
+
+START_TEST(test_rtp_parse_rejects_short_buffers)
+{
+    /* Invariant: rtp_parse must never read beyond the provided buffer length.
+     * It must safely reject packets that are too short to contain valid headers. */
+    unsigned char *payload = NULL;
+    int payload_len = 0;
+    int ret;
+
+    /* Case 1: Zero-length buffer (exploit case - triggers OOB at line 31) */
+    unsigned char empty[] = {0};
+    ret = rtp_parse(empty, 0, &payload, &payload_len);
+    ck_assert_int_le(ret, 0);
+
+    /* Case 2: 3-byte buffer - too short for seq_be read at buf+2 */
+    unsigned char short3[] = {0x80, 0x00, 0x01};
+    ret = rtp_parse(short3, 3, &payload, &payload_len);
+    ck_assert_int_le(ret, 0);
+
+    /* Case 3: Header with extension bit set but truncated before ext_len
+     * RTP header: V=2, P=0, X=1, CC=0, M=0, PT=0, seq=1, ts=0, ssrc=0
+     * Minimum fixed header is 12 bytes; extension needs 4 more bytes minimum */
+    unsigned char ext_trunc[] = {0x90, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01,
+                                  0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                                  0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                                  0xBE, 0xDE}; /* only 14 bytes, ext_len at offset 14 missing */
+    ret = rtp_parse(ext_trunc, 14, &payload, &payload_len);
+    ck_assert_int_le(ret, 0);
+
+    /* Case 4: Valid minimal RTP packet (no extension, no CSRC) - 12 byte header + 4 payload */
+    unsigned char valid[] = {0x80, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01,
+                             0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                             0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
+                             0xDE, 0xAD, 0xBE, 0xEF};
+    ret = rtp_parse(valid, 16, &payload, &payload_len);
+    ck_assert_int_ge(ret, 0);
+}
+END_TEST
+
+Suite *security_suite(void)
+{
+    Suite *s;
+    TCase *tc_core;
+
+    s = suite_create("Security");
+    tc_core = tcase_create("Core");
+
+    tcase_add_test(tc_core, test_rtp_parse_rejects_short_buffers);
+    suite_add_tcase(s, tc_core);
+
+    return s;
+}
+
+int main(void)
+{
+    int number_failed;
+    Suite *s;
+    SRunner *sr;
+
+    s = security_suite();
+    sr = srunner_create(s);
+
+    srunner_run_all(sr, CK_NORMAL);
+    number_failed = srunner_ntests_failed(sr);
+    srunner_free(sr);
+
+    return (number_failed == 0) ? EXIT_SUCCESS : EXIT_FAILURE;
+}
\ No newline at end of file