CVE-2026-25646
HighCVSS 8.1Exploitation Probability (EPSS)
Elevated risk58th percentile - higher than 58% of all known CVEs
Summary
In LIBPNG prior to version 1.6.55, an out-of-bounds read vulnerability exists in the png_set_quantize() function. When called with no histogram and the number of colors in the palette exceeds twice the maximum supported by the display, certain palettes cause an infinite loop reading past the end of a heap buffer. The triggering images are valid per the PNG specification.
Risk Assessment
An attacker can exploit a crafted PNG image to cause application crashes or heap memory leaks, potentially exposing sensitive data.
Recommendation
Upgrade LIBPNG to version 1.6.55 or later immediately.
Other vulnerabilities in LIBPNG
See all- CVE-2016-10087High
The png_set_text_2 function in libpng before versions 1.0.67, 1.2.57, 1.4.20, 1.5.28, and 1.6.27 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a NULL pointer dereference. This issue occurs when loading a text chunk into a png structure, removing the text, and then adding another text chunk.
- CVE-2016-3751High
Unspecified vulnerability in libpng before version 1.6.20, 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 July 1, 2016, allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application.
- CVE-2015-8540High
An integer underflow in the png_check_keyword function in pngwutil.c in libpng allows remote attackers to trigger an out-of-bounds read by using a space character as a keyword in a PNG image.
- CVE-2015-8472High
Buffer overflow in the png_set_PLTE function in libpng before version 1.0.65 and in versions 1.1.x, 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 application crashes or possibly have unspecified other impacts via a small bit-depth value in an IHDR (image header) chunk in a PNG image.
- CVE-2015-8126High
Multiple buffer overflows in the png_set_PLTE and png_get_PLTE functions in libpng before version 1.0.64 and in versions 1.1.x, 1.2.x, 1.3.x, 1.4.x, 1.5.x, and 1.6.x before their respective versions may allow remote attackers to cause application crashes or potentially other unspecified impacts via a small bit-depth value in an IHDR (image header) chunk in a PNG image.
- CVE-2015-0973High
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.
- CVE-2014-9495High
Heap-based buffer overflow in the png_combine_row function in libpng before 1.5.21 and 1.6.x before 1.6.16 may allow context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via a 'very wide interlaced' PNG image on 64-bit systems.
- CVE-2026-40930Medium
LIBPNG version 1.8.0 has a bug in the push-mode APNG parser: three inter-frame chunk discard paths do not consume the chunk body and CRC, allowing attacker-controlled bytes inside an ignored ancillary chunk to be reinterpreted as a fresh chunk header on the next call to png_process_data.
Original NVD description (English source)
LIBPNG is a reference library for use in applications that read, create, and manipulate PNG (Portable Network Graphics) raster image files. Prior to 1.6.55, an out-of-bounds read vulnerability exists in the png_set_quantize() API function. When the function is called with no histogram and the number of colors in the palette is more than twice the maximum supported by the user's display, certain palettes will cause the function to enter into an infinite loop that reads past the end of an internal heap-allocated buffer. The images that trigger this vulnerability are valid per the PNG specification. This vulnerability is fixed in 1.6.55.