Heap corruption via interlaced 16-to-8-bit row conversion
Published Nov 24, 2025 · Updated Nov 25, 2025
Heap buffer overflow in libpng 1.6.0 through 1.6.50 allows attackers to corrupt memory via a crafted 16-bit interlaced PNG. During png_image_finish_read, png_combine_row writes rows at the 16-bit IHDR depth into a heap buffer sized for the requested 8-bit output. Exposure requires an application to use the simplified API for untrusted images and request 8-bit output; successful triggering corrupts its heap and deterministically crashes the process.
Summary
What happened
Heap buffer overflow in libpng 1.6.0 through 1.6.50 allows attackers to corrupt memory via a crafted 16-bit interlaced PNG. During png_image_finish_read, png_combine_row writes rows at the 16-bit IHDR depth into a heap buffer sized for the requested 8-bit output. Exposure requires an application to use the simplified API for untrusted images and request 8-bit output; successful triggering corrupts its heap and deterministically crashes the process.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-65018
- Published
- Nov 24, 2025
- Updated
- Nov 25, 2025
- Vendor
- PNG Development Group
- Product
- libpng
- Classifications
- CWE-787, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 24, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 25, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=>= 1.6.0, < 1.6.51
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Public exploit references
- Upstream interlaced 16-bit PNG proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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