GNU libpng up to 1.0.16rc1/1.2.6rc1 PNG Image memory corruption

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CTI Interest Score
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6.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in GNU libpng up to 1.0.16rc1/1.2.6rc1. This impacts an unknown function of the component PNG Image Handler. The manipulation leads to memory corruption. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2004-0597. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. Furthermore, there is an exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in GNU libpng up to 1.0.16rc1/1.2.6rc1 (Image Processing Software) and classified as critical. This issue affects some unknown functionality of the component PNG Image Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Multiple buffer overflows in libpng 1.2.5 and earlier, as used in multiple products, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via malformed PNG images in which (1) the png_handle_tRNS function does not properly validate the length of transparency chunk (tRNS) data, or the (2) png_handle_sBIT or (3) png_handle_hIST functions do not perform sufficient bounds checking.

The bug was discovered 08/04/2004. The weakness was shared 08/04/2004 by Chris Evans with Google Chrome Security Team (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at scary.beasts.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2004-0597 since 06/23/2004. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available.

After immediately, there has been an exploit disclosed. The exploit is available at exploit-db.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. We expect the 0-day to have been worth approximately $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 14559 (GLSA-200408-03 : libpng: Numerous vulnerabilities), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Gentoo Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 38410 (MSN Messenger Remote Buffer Overflow (MS05-009)).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at sourceforge.net. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability. Attack attempts may be identified with Snort ID 2673. In this case the pattern |89|PNG|0D 0A 1A 0A| is used for detection.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (16894), Exploit-DB (389), Tenable (14559), SecurityFocus (BID 15495†) and OSVDB (8326†). lists.netsys.com is providing further details. The entries VDB-1326, VDB-1460, VDB-1764 and VDB-1763 are related to this item. Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
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CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.6

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 14559
Nessus Name: GLSA-200408-03 : libpng: Numerous vulnerabilities
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 53226
OpenVAS Name: Debian Security Advisory DSA 536-1 (libpng)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
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Patch: sourceforge.net

Snort ID: 2673
Snort Message: WEB-CLIENT libpng tRNS overflow attempt
Snort Class: 🔍
Snort Pattern: 🔍

Suricata ID: 2102673
Suricata Class: 🔍
Suricata Message: 🔍

Timelineinfo

06/23/2004 🔍
08/04/2004 +42 days 🔍
08/04/2004 +0 days 🔍
08/04/2004 +0 days 🔍
08/04/2004 +0 days 🔍
08/04/2004 +0 days 🔍
08/05/2004 +0 days 🔍
08/05/2004 +0 days 🔍
08/30/2004 +25 days 🔍
11/23/2004 +85 days 🔍
11/18/2005 +360 days 🔍
07/06/2025 +7170 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: gnu.org

Advisory: scary.beasts.org
Researcher: Chris Evans
Organization: Google Chrome Security Team
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2004-0597 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2004-0597
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-779

OVAL: 🔍

CERT: 🔍
X-Force: 16894 - libpng png_handle_sBIT and png_handle_tRNS buffer overflow, High Risk
SecurityFocus: 15495 - SCO OpenServer Release 5.0.7 Maintenance Pack 4 Released - Multiple Vulnerabilities Fixed
Secunia: 12219 - libpng Multiple Vulnerabilities, Highly Critical
OSVDB: 8326 - libpng png_handle_tRNS Remote Overflow
SecuriTeam: securiteam.com
Vulnerability Center: 7021

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013
Misc.: 🔍
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 08/05/2004 12:51
Updated: 07/06/2025 19:13
Changes: 08/05/2004 12:51 (104), 06/29/2019 06:54 (3), 07/07/2024 07:45 (16), 01/02/2025 17:56 (3), 07/06/2025 19:13 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:7B7:103

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