pnggroup libpng up to 1.6.53 Simplified API png_image_finish_read out-of-bounds

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in pnggroup libpng up to 1.6.53 and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is the function png_image_finish_read of the component Simplified API. Performing a manipulation results in out-of-bounds. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-22695. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in pnggroup libpng up to 1.6.53. It has been classified as critical. This affects the function png_image_finish_read of the component Simplified API. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a out-of-bounds vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-125. The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

LIBPNG is a reference library for use in applications that read, create, and manipulate PNG (Portable Network Graphics) raster image files. From 1.6.51 to 1.6.53, there is a heap buffer over-read in the libpng simplified API function png_image_finish_read when processing interlaced 16-bit PNGs with 8-bit output format and non-minimal row stride. This is a regression introduced by the fix for CVE-2025-65018. This vulnerability is fixed in 1.6.54.

It is possible to read the advisory at github.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-22695 since 01/08/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 282643 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-22695), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 1.6.54 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 218612ddd6b17944e21eda56caf8b4bf7779d1ea is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at github.com. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (282643) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-0068). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Fedora Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Open Source libpng
• Meinberg LANTIME
• Dell Secure Connect Gateway

Productinfo

Type

• Image Processing Software

Vendor

• pnggroup

Name

• libpng

Version

• 1.6.0
• 1.6.1
• 1.6.2
• 1.6.3
• 1.6.4
• 1.6.5
• 1.6.6
• 1.6.7
• 1.6.8
• 1.6.9
• 1.6.10
• 1.6.11
• 1.6.12
• 1.6.13
• 1.6.14
• 1.6.15
• 1.6.16
• 1.6.17
• 1.6.18
• 1.6.19
• 1.6.20
• 1.6.21
• 1.6.22
• 1.6.23
• 1.6.24
• 1.6.25
• 1.6.26
• 1.6.27
• 1.6.28
• 1.6.29
• 1.6.30
• 1.6.31
• 1.6.32
• 1.6.33
• 1.6.34
• 1.6.35
• 1.6.36
• 1.6.37
• 1.6.38
• 1.6.39
• 1.6.40
• 1.6.41
• 1.6.42
• 1.6.43
• 1.6.44
• 1.6.45
• 1.6.46
• 1.6.47
• 1.6.48
• 1.6.49
• 1.6.50
• 1.6.51
• 1.6.52
• 1.6.53

License

• open-source

Website

• Product: https://github.com/pnggroup/libpng/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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