Memory leak in the embedded_profile_len function in pngwutil.c in libpng before 1.2.39beta5 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a de
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.
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for the hundreds of thousands of vulnerabilities in the database; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for help- Published
- Aug 31, 2011
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 1.5% · 73th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-401
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Report tools
Action score
20
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 20 / 40 · 5.0 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 0 / 30 · 1.5%
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| libpng | libpng | cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- libpng libpngup to 1.2.38 inclusive
- libpng libpng1.2.39
Same product
libpng: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2010-1205Buffer 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 attack52Plan
- CVE-2017-12652libpng before 1.6.32 does not properly check the length of chunks against the user limit.40Plan
- CVE-2015-8540Integer 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 137Monitor
- CVE-2018-14550An issue has been found in third-party PNM decoding associated with libpng 1.6.35.36Monitor
- CVE-2015-0973Buffer 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 at36Monitor
- CVE-2014-9495Heap-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, 36Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
No fix version is recorded for this entry. Check the references for vendor advisories.
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- none
- Integrity
- none
- Availability
- P · the service can be disrupted
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Confidentiality impact
- None
- Integrity impact
- None
- Availability impact
- P
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-401 · Missing Release of Memory after Effective LifetimeCVSS vector
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
Change log
No changes recorded on tracked fields yet. Score, KEV, exploit maturity and fix status changes appear here.
References
- libpng.git.sourceforge.net/git/gitweb.cgi?p=libpng/libpng%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=948ee23a2a400672b1751cfc646a7467741e9b2e#patch18
- secunia.com/advisories/49660
- security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-201206-15.xml
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/03/22/7
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/03/28/6
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.