Description
libpng_plugin in VideoLAN VLC media player 2.0.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted PNG file.
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 14 | vlc | 2.0.4-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | vlc | 2.0.4-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | vlc | 2.0.4-1 | — |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- VideoLAN VLC Media Player 2.0.3 - '.png' ReadAV Crash (PoC) EDB-21889 · dos · Oct 11, 2012 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
References
- 21889 exploit
- [oss-security] 20121024 VLC 2.0.3 libpng_plugin CVE-2012-5470 mailing-list
- 55850 vdb-entry
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:15540 vdb-entry signature