Heap-based Buffer Overflow Affecting libpng package, versions <1.6.55-r0


Severity

Recommended
0.0
high
0
10

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Threat Intelligence

EPSS
0.07% (21st percentile)

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  • Snyk IDSNYK-ALPINE321-LIBPNG-15338682
  • published24 Feb 2026
  • disclosed10 Feb 2026

Introduced: 10 Feb 2026

CVE-2026-25646  (opens in a new tab)
CWE-122  (opens in a new tab)
CWE-126  (opens in a new tab)

How to fix?

Upgrade Alpine:3.21 libpng to version 1.6.55-r0 or higher.

NVD Description

Note: Versions mentioned in the description apply only to the upstream libpng package and not the libpng package as distributed by Alpine. See How to fix? for Alpine:3.21 relevant fixed versions and status.

LIBPNG is a reference library for use in applications that read, create, and manipulate PNG (Portable Network Graphics) raster image files. Prior to 1.6.55, an out-of-bounds read vulnerability exists in the png_set_quantize() API function. When the function is called with no histogram and the number of colors in the palette is more than twice the maximum supported by the user's display, certain palettes will cause the function to enter into an infinite loop that reads past the end of an internal heap-allocated buffer. The images that trigger this vulnerability are valid per the PNG specification. This vulnerability is fixed in 1.6.55.

CVSS Base Scores

version 3.1