CVE-2011-3048

CVE-2011-3048 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Libpng with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-119.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 6.8)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 7% (93rd percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-119
• Affected product: Libpng
• Published: 2012-05-29
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The png_set_text_2 function in pngset.c in libpng 1.0.x before 1.0.59, 1.2.x before 1.2.49, 1.4.x before 1.4.11, and 1.5.x before 1.5.10 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or execute arbitrary code via a crafted text chunk in a PNG image file, which triggers a memory allocation failure that is not properly handled, leading to a heap-based buffer overflow.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2011-3048?

The png_set_text_2 function in pngset.c in libpng 1.0.x before 1.0.59, 1.2.x before 1.2.49, 1.4.x before 1.4.11, and 1.5.x before 1.5.10 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or execute arbitrary code via a crafted text chunk in a PNG image file, which triggers a memory allocation failure that is not properly handled, leading to a heap-based buffer overflow.

How severe is CVE-2011-3048?

CVE-2011-3048 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.8, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2011-3048 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 7% (93rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2011-3048?

CVE-2011-3048 primarily affects Libpng. In total, 143 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2011-3048?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2011-3048 published?

CVE-2011-3048 was published on 2012-05-29 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2012/Sep/msg00003.html
• http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2012/Sep/msg00004.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-April/077007.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-April/077043.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-April/077472.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-April/077819.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-April/079039.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-April/079051.html
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-0523.html
• http://secunia.com/advisories/48587
• http://secunia.com/advisories/48644
• http://secunia.com/advisories/48665
• http://secunia.com/advisories/48721
• http://secunia.com/advisories/48983
• http://secunia.com/advisories/49660
• http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-201206-15.xml
• http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5501
• http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5503
• http://ubuntu.com/usn/usn-1417-1
• http://www.debian.org/security/2012/dsa-2446
• http://www.libpng.org/pub/png/libpng.html
• http://www.libpng.org/pub/png/src/libpng-1.5.10-README.txt
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2012:046
• http://www.osvdb.org/80822
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/52830
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1026879
• https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/74494

Affected products (143)

• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.22:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.23:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.24:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.25:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.26:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.27:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.28:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.29:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.30:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.31:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.32:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.33:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.34:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.35:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.37:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.38:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.39:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.40:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.0.41:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Libpng

• CVE-2017-12652 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): libpng before 1.6.32 does not properly check the length of chunks against the user limit.
• CVE-2010-1205 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Buffer overflow in pngpread.c in libpng before 1.2.44 and 1.4.x before 1.4.3, as used in progressive applications,…
• CVE-2018-14550 — High (CVSS 8.8): An issue has been found in third-party PNM decoding associated with libpng 1.6.35. It is a stack-based buffer overflow…
• CVE-2015-8540 — High (CVSS 8.8): Integer underflow in the png_check_keyword function in pngwutil.c in libpng 0.90 through 0.99, 1.0.x before 1.0.66,…
• CVE-2015-0973 — High (CVSS 8.8): Buffer 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…
• CVE-2014-9495 — High (CVSS 8.8): Heap-based buffer overflow in the png_combine_row function in libpng before 1.5.21 and 1.6.x before 1.6.16, when…

All CVEs affecting Libpng →

Other CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer) vulnerabilities

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• CVE-2022-27625 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A vulnerability regarding improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer is found in the…
• CVE-2022-27624 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A vulnerability regarding improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer is found in the…
• CVE-2020-11896 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The Treck TCP/IP stack before 6.0.1.66 allows Remote Code Execution, related to IPv4 tunneling.

Browse all CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer) vulnerabilities →