CVE-2025-65018: pnggroup libpng · Out-of-bounds Write
Affects pnggroup libpngSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.1 High : upgrade to 1.6.51 soon.
Data as of 25 Oct 2026, 19:02 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 19% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 1.6.51
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 24 Nov 2025
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 2026-10-25.
What to do
Upgrade pnggroup/libpng to 1.6.51.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
GitHubpnggroup/libpngpkg:github/pnggroup/libpngOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
1. Immediately update all libpng instances to version 1.6.51 or later to apply the official patch. 2. Audit and inventory software and systems to identify all applications and services using vulnerable libpng versions. 3. Implement strict input validation and sanitization for PNG files, especially those sourced from untrusted or external origins. 4. Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques for software that processes image files to contain potential exploitation. 5. Educate users about the risks of opening unsolicited or suspicious image files, reducing the likelihood of successful social engineering. 6. Monitor logs and system behavior for signs of crashes or anomalous activity related to image processing applications. 7. Coordinate with software vendors to ensure timely patching of embedded libpng libraries in third-party products. 8. Consider network-level controls to restrict or scan image file transfers where feasible.
Description
LIBPNG is a reference library for use in applications that read, create, and manipulate PNG (Portable Network Graphics) raster image files. From version 1.6.0 to before 1.6.51, there is a heap buffer overflow vulnerability in the libpng simplified API function png_image_finish_read when processing 16-bit interlaced PNGs with 8-bit output format. Attacker-crafted interlaced PNG files cause heap writes beyond allocated buffer bounds. This issue has been patched in version 1.6.51.
References
- github.com/pnggroup/libpng/security/advisories/GHSA-7wv6-48j4-hj3g (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/pnggroup/libpng/issues/755 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/pnggroup/libpng/pull/757 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/pnggroup/libpng/commit/16b5e3823918840aae65c0a6da57c78a5a496a4d (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/pnggroup/libpng/commit/218612ddd6b17944e21eda56caf8b4bf7779d1ea (opens in a new tab)