CVE-2025-28164 in libpng
Summary
by MITRE • 01/27/2026
Buffer Overflow vulnerability in libpng 1.6.43-1.6.46 allows a local attacker to cause a denial of service via png_create_read_struct() function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-28164 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the libpng library version range 1.6.43 through 1.6.46. This issue resides in the png_create_read_struct() function which serves as a fundamental component for reading png image files in applications that utilize the libpng library. The buffer overflow occurs when the library processes malformed or specially crafted png files that contain excessive data in their headers or metadata sections. This particular vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to write beyond the allocated memory buffer, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability affects any application that relies on libpng for image processing, including web servers, image viewers, and multimedia applications that handle user-uploaded png files.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow occurs during the initialization phase of png file processing when the png_create_read_struct() function attempts to allocate memory for reading png structures. When encountering specially crafted png files with oversized fields or malformed data sequences, the function fails to properly validate input boundaries before copying data into fixed-size buffers. This flaw enables a local attacker to construct malicious png files that trigger memory corruption when processed by vulnerable applications. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through normal file processing operations without requiring special privileges, making it accessible to any user who can influence the input to an application using libpng. The attack vector operates through the standard image processing pipeline where applications load png files for display or further processing, making this a widespread potential threat across numerous software ecosystems.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-28164 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to potentially enable more severe consequences including system crashes, application instability, and in some cases, arbitrary code execution depending on memory layout and exploitation conditions. Applications affected by this vulnerability include web servers processing user-uploaded images, desktop applications handling image files, mobile applications with image processing capabilities, and any software that incorporates libpng for png file handling. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack scenarios including web-based file uploads, email attachments, or direct file processing operations. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1203 as a process injection technique and T1059 for command and control through application execution. The denial of service aspect impacts availability and can be leveraged in DoS attacks against web applications, rendering them unresponsive when processing malicious png files.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-28164 require immediate patching of libpng installations to versions 1.6.47 or later where the buffer overflow has been addressed through enhanced input validation and bounds checking. System administrators should prioritize updating all affected applications that utilize libpng, particularly web servers, image processing software, and any applications handling untrusted image files. Additional defensive measures include implementing input validation at application level to filter or reject suspicious png files, deploying web application firewalls to monitor and block malicious file uploads, and configuring applications to process images in sandboxed environments. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools to identify systems running vulnerable versions of libpng and establish monitoring protocols for detecting exploitation attempts. The fix implemented in newer libpng versions includes enhanced validation of png file headers and stricter bounds checking in the png_create_read_struct() function, preventing the overflow condition from occurring when processing malformed input data. Security teams should conduct comprehensive testing of patched environments to ensure that the updates do not introduce compatibility issues with existing applications while maintaining robust protection against this specific buffer overflow vulnerability.