diff --git a/libavcodec/avcodec.h b/libavcodec/avcodec.h
index 6e44a9068b..42eb57b76a 100644
--- a/libavcodec/avcodec.h
+++ b/libavcodec/avcodec.h
@@ -3112,6 +3112,13 @@ typedef struct AVCodecContext {
      */
     uint8_t *dump_separator;
 
+    /**
+     * ',' seperated list of allowed decoders.
+     * If NULL then all are allowed
+     * - encoding: unused
+     * - decoding: set by user through AVOPtions (NO direct access)
+     */
+    char *codec_whitelist;
 } AVCodecContext;
 
 AVRational av_codec_get_pkt_timebase         (const AVCodecContext *avctx);
diff --git a/libavcodec/options_table.h b/libavcodec/options_table.h
index 840d054edc..77841b55fe 100644
--- a/libavcodec/options_table.h
+++ b/libavcodec/options_table.h
@@ -487,6 +487,7 @@ static const AVOption avcodec_options[] = {
 {"tb", NULL, 0, AV_OPT_TYPE_CONST, {.i64 = AV_FIELD_TB }, 0, 0, V|D|E, "field_order" },
 {"bt", NULL, 0, AV_OPT_TYPE_CONST, {.i64 = AV_FIELD_BT }, 0, 0, V|D|E, "field_order" },
 {"dump_separator", "set information dump field separator", OFFSET(dump_separator), AV_OPT_TYPE_STRING, {.str = NULL}, CHAR_MIN, CHAR_MAX, A|V|S|D|E},
+{"codec_whitelist", "List of decoders that are allowed to be used", OFFSET(codec_whitelist), AV_OPT_TYPE_STRING, { .str = NULL },  CHAR_MIN, CHAR_MAX, D },
 {NULL},
 };
 
diff --git a/libavcodec/utils.c b/libavcodec/utils.c
index 93be575d27..36ba118e7f 100644
--- a/libavcodec/utils.c
+++ b/libavcodec/utils.c
@@ -1385,6 +1385,12 @@ int attribute_align_arg avcodec_open2(AVCodecContext *avctx, const AVCodec *code
     if ((ret = av_opt_set_dict(avctx, &tmp)) < 0)
         goto free_and_end;
 
+    if (avctx->codec_whitelist && av_match_list(codec->name, avctx->codec_whitelist, ',') <= 0) {
+        av_log(avctx, AV_LOG_ERROR, "Codec not on whitelist\n");
+        ret = AVERROR(EINVAL);
+        goto free_and_end;
+    }
+
     // only call ff_set_dimensions() for non H.264/VP6F codecs so as not to overwrite previously setup dimensions
     if (!(avctx->coded_width && avctx->coded_height && avctx->width && avctx->height &&
           (avctx->codec_id == AV_CODEC_ID_H264 || avctx->codec_id == AV_CODEC_ID_VP6F))) {