cbcvebase.
CVE-2004-0597
published 2004-11-23

CVE-2004-0597: Multiple buffer overflows in libpng 1.2.5 and earlier, as used in multiple products, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via malformed PNG images…

PriorityP262critical10CVSS 2.0
AVNACLAuNCCICAC
EXPLOIT
EPSS
82.54%
99.6th percentile
Multiple buffer overflows in libpng 1.2.5 and earlier, as used in multiple products, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via malformed PNG images in which (1) the png_handle_tRNS function does not properly validate the length of transparency chunk (tRNS) data, or the (2) png_handle_sBIT or (3) png_handle_hIST functions do not perform sufficient bounds checking.

Affected

5 ranges
VendorProductVersion rangeFixed in
greg_roelofslibpng<= 1.2.5
microsoftmsn_messenger
microsoftmsn_messenger
microsoftwindows_media_player
microsoftwindows_messenger

Detection & IOCsextracted from sources · hover to see the quote

bytes
89 50 4E 47 0D 0A 1A 0A
bytes
00 00 00 0D 49 48 44 52 00 00 00 5B 00 00 00 45 08 03 00 00 01 65 33 5A D6
bytes
00 00 00 00 74 52 4E 53
bytes
89 50 4E 47 0D 0A 1A 0A 00 00 00 0D 49 48 44 52 00 00 00 40 00 00 00 40 08 03 00 00 00 9D B7 81 EC 00 00 01 B9 74 52 4E 53
  • Malformed PNG tRNS chunk with oversized or invalid length field targeting png_handle_tRNS; look for tRNS chunk data length inconsistent with color type (e.g., color type 0x03/palette without a preceding PLTE chunk)
  • Malformed PNG with oversized sBIT or hIST chunk data triggering bounds-check bypass in png_handle_sBIT or png_handle_hIST
  • For MSN Messenger exploitation vector, malicious PNG delivered via user display pictures, custom inline icons, image transfer thumbnails, or background images should be inspected
  • ·Exploit targets libpng 1.2.5 and earlier; versions beyond 1.2.5 contain the patch. Confirm library version before applying detection logic.
  • ·The libpng PoC exploit output is not a complete valid PNG — it contains only enough structure to trigger the bug; scanners expecting well-formed PNGs may miss it

CVSS provenance

nvdv2.010.0CRITICALAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
vendor_redhat10.0CRITICAL
CVEs like this are exactly what “Exploited This Week” covers.

Every Monday: what got weaponized or added to CISA KEV in the last seven days — each CVE cross-linked to its PoC, Nuclei template, and detection rule. Free, one email a week, unsubscribe in one click.