Focus on libpng vulnerabilities and metrics.
Last updated: 08 Mar 2025, 23:25 UTC
This page consolidates all known Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) associated with libpng. We track both calendar-based metrics (using fixed periods) and rolling metrics (using gliding windows) to give you a comprehensive view of security trends and risk evolution. Use these insights to assess risk and plan your patching strategy.
For a broader perspective on cybersecurity threats, explore the comprehensive list of CVEs by vendor and product. Stay updated on critical vulnerabilities affecting major software and hardware providers.
Total libpng CVEs: 18
Earliest CVE date: 18 Aug 2004, 04:00 UTC
Latest CVE date: 06 Mar 2023, 23:15 UTC
Latest CVE reference: CVE-2022-3857
30-day Count (Rolling): 0
365-day Count (Rolling): 0
Calendar-based Variation
Calendar-based Variation compares a fixed calendar period (e.g., this month versus the same month last year), while Rolling Growth Rate uses a continuous window (e.g., last 30 days versus the previous 30 days) to capture trends independent of calendar boundaries.
Month Variation (Calendar): 0%
Year Variation (Calendar): 0%
Month Growth Rate (30-day Rolling): 0.0%
Year Growth Rate (365-day Rolling): 0.0%
Average CVSS: 5.36
Max CVSS: 10.0
Critical CVEs (≥9): 2
| Range | Count |
|---|---|
| 0.0-3.9 | 4 |
| 4.0-6.9 | 32 |
| 7.0-8.9 | 9 |
| 9.0-10.0 | 2 |
These are the five CVEs with the highest CVSS scores for libpng, sorted by severity first and recency.
A flaw was found in libpng 1.6.38. A crafted PNG image can lead to a segmentation fault and denial of service in png_setup_paeth_row() function.
A heap overflow flaw was found in libpngs' pngimage.c program. This flaw allows an attacker with local network access to pass a specially crafted PNG file to the pngimage utility, causing an application to crash, leading to a denial of service.
A global buffer overflow was discovered in pngcheck function in pngcheck-2.4.0(5 patches applied) via a crafted png file.
A flaw was found in the check_chunk_name() function of pngcheck-2.4.0. An attacker able to pass a malicious file to be processed by pngcheck could cause a temporary denial of service, posing a low risk to application availability.
libpng before 1.6.32 does not properly check the length of chunks against the user limit.
An issue has been found in third-party PNM decoding associated with libpng 1.6.35. It is a stack-based buffer overflow in the function get_token in pnm2png.c in pnm2png.
png_image_free in png.c in libpng 1.6.x before 1.6.37 has a use-after-free because png_image_free_function is called under png_safe_execute.
png_create_info_struct in png.c in libpng 1.6.36 has a memory leak, as demonstrated by pngcp. NOTE: a third party has stated "I don't think it is libpng's job to free this buffer.
An issue has been found in libpng 1.6.34. It is a SEGV in the function png_free_data in png.c, related to the recommended error handling for png_read_image.
In libpng 1.6.34, a wrong calculation of row_factor in the png_check_chunk_length function (pngrutil.c) may trigger an integer overflow and resultant divide-by-zero while processing a crafted PNG file, leading to a denial of service.
The png_set_text_2 function in libpng 0.71 before 1.0.67, 1.2.x before 1.2.57, 1.4.x before 1.4.20, 1.5.x before 1.5.28, and 1.6.x before 1.6.27 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a NULL pointer dereference vectors involving loading a text chunk into a png structure, removing the text, and then adding another text chunk to the structure.
Unspecified vulnerability in libpng before 1.6.20, as used in Android 4.x before 4.4.4, 5.0.x before 5.0.2, 5.1.x before 5.1.1, and 6.x before 2016-07-01, allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, as demonstrated by obtaining Signature or SignatureOrSystem access, aka internal bug 23265085.
Integer underflow in the png_check_keyword function in pngwutil.c in libpng 0.90 through 0.99, 1.0.x before 1.0.66, 1.1.x and 1.2.x before 1.2.56, 1.3.x and 1.4.x before 1.4.19, and 1.5.x before 1.5.26 allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact via a space character as a keyword in a PNG image, which triggers an out-of-bounds read.
Buffer overflow in the png_set_PLTE function in libpng before 1.0.65, 1.1.x and 1.2.x before 1.2.55, 1.3.x, 1.4.x before 1.4.18, 1.5.x before 1.5.25, and 1.6.x before 1.6.20 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a small bit-depth value in an IHDR (aka image header) chunk in a PNG image. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2015-8126.
The png_convert_to_rfc1123 function in png.c in libpng 1.0.x before 1.0.64, 1.2.x before 1.2.54, and 1.4.x before 1.4.17 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive process memory information via crafted tIME chunk data in an image file, which triggers an out-of-bounds read.
Multiple buffer overflows in the (1) png_set_PLTE and (2) png_get_PLTE functions in libpng before 1.0.64, 1.1.x and 1.2.x before 1.2.54, 1.3.x and 1.4.x before 1.4.17, 1.5.x before 1.5.24, and 1.6.x before 1.6.19 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a small bit-depth value in an IHDR (aka image header) chunk in a PNG image.
Buffer overflow in the png_read_IDAT_data function in pngrutil.c in libpng before 1.5.21 and 1.6.x before 1.6.16 allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via IDAT data with a large width, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-9495.
Heap-based buffer overflow in the png_combine_row function in libpng before 1.5.21 and 1.6.x before 1.6.16, when running on 64-bit systems, might allow context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via a "very wide interlaced" PNG image.
Multiple integer overflows in libpng before 1.5.14rc03 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a crafted image to the (1) png_set_sPLT or (2) png_set_text_2 function, which triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.
Integer overflow in the png_set_unknown_chunks function in libpng/pngset.c in libpng before 1.5.14beta08 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (segmentation fault and crash) via a crafted image, which triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.
The png_push_read_chunk function in pngpread.c in the progressive decoder in libpng 1.6.x through 1.6.9 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop and CPU consumption) via an IDAT chunk with a length of zero.
The png_do_expand_palette function in libpng before 1.6.8 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and application crash) via (1) a PLTE chunk of zero bytes or (2) a NULL palette, related to pngrtran.c and pngset.c.
The png_push_read_zTXt function in pngpread.c in libpng 1.0.x before 1.0.58, 1.2.x before 1.2.48, 1.4.x before 1.4.10, and 1.5.x before 1.5.10 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via a large avail_in field value in a PNG image.
Off-by-one error in the png_formatted_warning function in pngerror.c in libpng 1.5.4 through 1.5.7 might allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, which trigger a stack-based buffer overflow.
The png_set_text_2 function in pngset.c in libpng 1.0.x before 1.0.59, 1.2.x before 1.2.49, 1.4.x before 1.4.11, and 1.5.x before 1.5.10 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or execute arbitrary code via a crafted text chunk in a PNG image file, which triggers a memory allocation failure that is not properly handled, leading to a heap-based buffer overflow.
Integer signedness error in the png_inflate function in pngrutil.c in libpng before 1.4.10beta01, as used in Google Chrome before 17.0.963.83 and other products, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted PNG file, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-3026.
Memory leak in the embedded_profile_len function in pngwutil.c in libpng before 1.2.39beta5 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (memory leak or segmentation fault) via a JPEG image containing an iCCP chunk with a negative embedded profile length. NOTE: this is due to an incomplete fix for CVE-2006-7244.
Memory leak in pngwutil.c in libpng 1.2.13beta1, and other versions before 1.2.15beta3, allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (memory leak or segmentation fault) via a JPEG image containing an iCCP chunk with a negative embedded profile length.
The png_handle_sCAL function in pngrutil.c in libpng 1.0.x before 1.0.55, 1.2.x before 1.2.45, 1.4.x before 1.4.8, and 1.5.x before 1.5.4 does not properly handle invalid sCAL chunks, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted PNG image that triggers the reading of uninitialized memory.
The png_err function in pngerror.c in libpng 1.0.x before 1.0.55, 1.2.x before 1.2.45, 1.4.x before 1.4.8, and 1.5.x before 1.5.4 makes a function call using a NULL pointer argument instead of an empty-string argument, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted PNG image.
Buffer overflow in libpng 1.0.x before 1.0.55, 1.2.x before 1.2.45, 1.4.x before 1.4.8, and 1.5.x before 1.5.4, when used by an application that calls the png_rgb_to_gray function but not the png_set_expand function, allows remote attackers to overwrite memory with an arbitrary amount of data, and possibly have unspecified other impact, via a crafted PNG image.
The png_format_buffer function in pngerror.c in libpng 1.0.x before 1.0.55, 1.2.x before 1.2.45, 1.4.x before 1.4.8, and 1.5.x before 1.5.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted PNG image that triggers an out-of-bounds read during the copying of error-message data. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of a CVE-2004-0421 regression. NOTE: this is called an off-by-one error by some sources.
pngrtran.c in libpng 1.5.x before 1.5.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted palette-based PNG image that triggers a buffer overflow, related to the png_do_expand_palette function, the png_do_rgb_to_gray function, and an integer underflow. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
Memory leak in pngrutil.c in libpng before 1.2.44, and 1.4.x before 1.4.3, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption and application crash) via a PNG image containing malformed Physical Scale (aka sCAL) chunks.
Buffer overflow in pngpread.c in libpng before 1.2.44 and 1.4.x before 1.4.3, as used in progressive applications, might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a PNG image that triggers an additional data row.
The png_decompress_chunk function in pngrutil.c in libpng 1.0.x before 1.0.53, 1.2.x before 1.2.43, and 1.4.x before 1.4.1 does not properly handle compressed ancillary-chunk data that has a disproportionately large uncompressed representation, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory and CPU consumption, and application hang) via a crafted PNG file, as demonstrated by use of the deflate compression method on data composed of many occurrences of the same character, related to a "decompression bomb" attack.
libpng before 1.2.37 does not properly parse 1-bit interlaced images with width values that are not divisible by 8, which causes libpng to include uninitialized bits in certain rows of a PNG file and might allow remote attackers to read portions of sensitive memory via "out-of-bounds pixels" in the file.
The PNG reference library (aka libpng) before 1.0.43, and 1.2.x before 1.2.35, as used in pngcrush and other applications, allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted PNG file that triggers a free of an uninitialized pointer in (1) the png_read_png function, (2) pCAL chunk handling, or (3) setup of 16-bit gamma tables.
Memory leak in the png_handle_tEXt function in pngrutil.c in libpng before 1.2.33 rc02 and 1.4.0 beta36 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (memory exhaustion) via a crafted PNG file.
The png_check_keyword function in pngwutil.c in libpng before 1.0.42, and 1.2.x before 1.2.34, might allow context-dependent attackers to set the value of an arbitrary memory location to zero via vectors involving creation of crafted PNG files with keywords, related to an implicit cast of the '\0' character constant to a NULL pointer. NOTE: some sources incorrectly report this as a double free vulnerability.
Multiple off-by-one errors in libpng before 1.2.32beta01, and 1.4 before 1.4.0beta34, allow context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or have unspecified other impact via a PNG image with crafted zTXt chunks, related to (1) the png_push_read_zTXt function in pngread.c, and possibly related to (2) pngtest.c.
libpng 1.0.6 through 1.0.32, 1.2.0 through 1.2.26, and 1.4.0beta01 through 1.4.0beta19 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a PNG file with zero length "unknown" chunks, which trigger an access of uninitialized memory.
Certain chunk handlers in libpng before 1.0.29 and 1.2.x before 1.2.21 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via crafted (1) pCAL (png_handle_pCAL), (2) sCAL (png_handle_sCAL), (3) tEXt (png_push_read_tEXt), (4) iTXt (png_handle_iTXt), and (5) ztXT (png_handle_ztXt) chunking in PNG images, which trigger out-of-bounds read operations.
Off-by-one error in ICC profile chunk handling in the png_set_iCCP function in pngset.c in libpng before 1.0.29 beta1 and 1.2.x before 1.2.21 beta1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a crafted PNG image that prevents a name field from being NULL terminated.
Off-by-one error in ICC profile chunk handling in the png_set_iCCP function in pngset.c in libpng before 1.2.22 beta1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a crafted PNG image, due to an incorrect fix for CVE-2007-5266.
pngrtran.c in libpng before 1.0.29 and 1.2.x before 1.2.21 use (1) logical instead of bitwise operations and (2) incorrect comparisons, which might allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a crafted PNG image.
The Portable Network Graphics library (libpng) 1.0.15 and earlier allows attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a malformed PNG image file that triggers an error that causes an out-of-bounds read when creating the error message.