CVE-2015-0973
CVE-2015-0973 is a high-severity vulnerability in Libpng with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8. 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: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.8)
- CVSS v2: 7.5
- EPSS exploit prediction: 4% (90th percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- Weakness: CWE-119
- Affected product: Libpng
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
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 context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via IDAT data with a large width, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-9495.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2015-0973?
- 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 context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via IDAT data with a large width, a different vulnerability than CVE-2014-9495.
- How severe is CVE-2015-0973?
- CVE-2015-0973 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
- Is CVE-2015-0973 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 4% (90th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2015-0973?
- CVE-2015-0973 primarily affects Libpng. In total, 32 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2015-0973?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
- When was CVE-2015-0973 published?
- CVE-2015-0973 was published on 2015-01-18 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2016/Mar/msg00004.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/62725
- http://sourceforge.net/p/png-mng/mailman/message/33173461/
- http://tfpwn.com/files/libpng_heap_overflow_1.6.15.txt
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/01/10/1
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/01/10/3
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinjul2015-2511963.html
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240719-0005/
- https://support.apple.com/HT206167
Affected products (32)
- cpe:2.3:o:oracle:solaris:11.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.0:beta:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.1:beta:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.2:beta:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.3:beta:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.4:beta:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.7:beta:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.8:beta:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.9:beta:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.10:beta:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.11:beta:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.12:beta:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.13:beta:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.14:beta:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:libpng:libpng:1.6.15:beta:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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-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…
- CVE-2011-3045 — High (CVSS 8.8): Integer signedness error in the png_inflate function in pngrutil.c in libpng before 1.4.10beta01, as used in Google…
Other CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer) vulnerabilities
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- CVE-2026-2776 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Sandbox escape due to incorrect boundary conditions in the Telemetry component in External Software. This vulnerability…
- CVE-2025-1866 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer vulnerability in warmcat libwebsockets allows…
- 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.