libpng up to 1.4.0 pngrutil.c png_handle_tEXt resource management

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.7$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in libpng. It has been declared as problematic. The affected element is the function png_handle_tEXt of the file pngrutil.c. The manipulation results in resource management. This vulnerability was named CVE-2008-6218. There is no available exploit. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in libpng (Image Processing Software). Affected is the function png_handle_tEXt of the file pngrutil.c. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a resource management vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-399. This is going to have an impact on availability. CVE summarizes:

Memory leak in the png_handle_tEXt function in pngrutil.c in libpng before 1.2.33 rc02 and 1.4.0 beta36 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (memory exhaustion) via a crafted PNG file.

The bug was discovered 10/27/2008. The weakness was presented 02/20/2009 (Website). The advisory is shared for download at sourceforge.net. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2008-6218 since 02/20/2009. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 116 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $0-$5k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 75603 (openSUSE Security Update : libpng12 (libpng12-4947)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family SuSE Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 116312 (Debian Security Update for libpng (DSA-1750)).

Upgrading to version 1.2.11 eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published 3 years after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (46115), Tenable (75603), SecurityFocus (BID 31920†), OSVDB (49374†) and Secunia (SA34265†). See VDB-45917 for similar entry. Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Name

Version

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.7

VulDB Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Temp Score: 6.7
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Resource management
CWE: CWE-399 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Proof-of-Concept

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 75603
Nessus Name: openSUSE Security Update : libpng12 (libpng12-4947)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 63682
OpenVAS Name: Debian Security Advisory DSA 1750-1 (libpng)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Upgrade: libpng 1.2.11

Timelineinfo

09/18/2008 🔍
10/27/2008 +39 days 🔍
10/27/2008 +0 days 🔍
02/20/2009 +116 days 🔍
02/20/2009 +0 days 🔍
02/20/2009 +0 days 🔍
02/20/2009 +0 days 🔍
03/13/2009 +21 days 🔍
03/23/2009 +10 days 🔍
08/02/2011 +862 days 🔍
06/13/2014 +1046 days 🔍
03/17/2015 +277 days 🔍
06/08/2025 +3736 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: sourceforge.net
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2008-6218 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2008-6218
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-46668

OVAL: 🔍

X-Force: 46115
SecurityFocus: 31920 - Libpng Library 'png_handle_tEXt()' Memory Leak Denial of Service Vulnerability
Secunia: 34265 - rPath update for libpng, Moderately Critical
OSVDB: 49374 - Libpng Library - 'png_handle_tEXt()' Memory Leak Denial of Service Issue
SecurityTracker: 1021104
Vulnerability Center: 21365 - libpng < 1.2.33 rc02 and 1.4.0 beta36 Memory leak in the png_handle_tEXt function, Medium
Vupen: ADV-2008-2917

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 03/17/2015 16:11
Updated: 06/08/2025 19:18
Changes: 03/17/2015 16:11 (87), 08/31/2019 09:29 (4), 06/08/2025 19:18 (18)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:CB5:103

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