CVE-2015-7981

CVE-2015-7981 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Libpng with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.0. 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-200.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 5.0)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 6% (93rd percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-200
• Affected product: Libpng
• Published: 2015-11-24
• Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

The png_convert_to_rfc1123 function in png.c in libpng 1.0.x before 1.0.64, 1.2.x before 1.2.54, and 1.4.x before 1.4.17 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive process memory information via crafted tIME chunk data in an image file, which triggers an out-of-bounds read.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2015-7981?

The png_convert_to_rfc1123 function in png.c in libpng 1.0.x before 1.0.64, 1.2.x before 1.2.54, and 1.4.x before 1.4.17 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive process memory information via crafted tIME chunk data in an image file, which triggers an out-of-bounds read.

How severe is CVE-2015-7981?

CVE-2015-7981 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.0, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2015-7981 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 6% (93rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2015-7981?

CVE-2015-7981 primarily affects Libpng. In total, 158 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2015-7981?

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

When was CVE-2015-7981 published?

CVE-2015-7981 was published on 2015-11-24 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-November/172620.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-November/172647.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-November/172663.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2015-11/msg00033.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2015-11/msg00160.html
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-2594.html
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-2595.html
• http://sourceforge.net/p/libpng/bugs/241/
• http://sourceforge.net/projects/libpng/files/libpng10/1.0.64/
• http://sourceforge.net/projects/libpng/files/libpng12/1.2.54/
• http://sourceforge.net/projects/libpng/files/libpng14/1.4.17/
• http://www.debian.org/security/2015/dsa-3399
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/10/26/1
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/10/26/3
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinjul2016-3090568.html
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinoct2015-2719645.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/77304
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1034393
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2815-1
• https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016:1430
• https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201611-08

Affected products (158)

• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:15.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:15.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_hpc_node:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_hpc_node_eus:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• 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:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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…

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