Description
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.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 6.0 | libpng | 1.2.44-1+squeeze1 | DSA-2287-1 |
| Debian 5.0 | libpng | 1.2.27-2+lenny5 | DSA-2287-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | libpng +2 | 2:1.2.46-1.el6_1 | RHSA-2011:1105 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | libpng16 | 1.6.26-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10050-1 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 3 | syslinux | 6.04-11 | — |
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2011:1105 Red Hat Security Advisory: libpng security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-2287-1 libpng - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10050-1 libpng16-16-1.6.26-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- 49660 third-party-advisory
- 45046 third-party-advisory
- USN-1175-1 vendor-advisory
- http://libpng.git.sourceforge.net/git/gitweb.cgi?p=libpng/libpng%3Ba=commit%3Bh=65e6d5a34f49acdb362a0625a706c6b914e670af
- MDVSA-2011:151 vendor-advisory
- 48474 vdb-entry
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=717084
- SSA:2011-210-01 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-201206-15 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20110627 CVE request for libpng regression (CVE-2004-0421) mailing-list
- FEDORA-2011-8868 vendor-advisory
- libpng-pngerror-dos(68517) vdb-entry
- 45289 third-party-advisory
- FEDORA-2011-9336 vendor-advisory
- DSA-2287 vendor-advisory
- http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?thread_name=BANLkTikrnU6FJNQYFvwmt78hwpgKPVRd1Q%40mail.gmail.com&forum_name=png-mng-implement
- 45405 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2011:1105 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20110628 Re: CVE request for libpng regression (CVE-2004-0421) mailing-list
- 45460 third-party-advisory
- 45486 third-party-advisory
- 45492 third-party-advisory
- 45415 third-party-advisory