CVE-2025-64720 LIBPNG is vulnerable to a buffer overflow in `png_image_read_composite` via incorrect palette premultiplication
An out-of-bounds read in libpng allows attackers to cause denial of service or disclose memory when processing specific palette images.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2025-64720?
CVE-2025-64720 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Libpng Libpng, published on 24 Nov 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official 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, an out-of-bounds read vulnerability exists in png_image_read_composite when processing palette images with PNG_FLAG_OPTIMIZE_ALPHA enabled. The palette compositing code in png_init_read_transformations incorrectly applies background compositing during premultiplication, violating the invariant component ≤ alpha × 257 required by the simplified PNG API. This issue has been patched in version 1.6.51.
Weakness: CWE-125
Which versions are affected by CVE-2025-64720?
It affects 1 product.
Linux distribution packages (5)
libpng Red Hat:rhel_els:7 | All versions | 2:1.5.13-8.el7_9.1 |
libpng-debuginfo Red Hat:rhel_els:7 | All versions | 2:1.5.13-8.el7_9.1 |
libpng-devel Red Hat:rhel_els:7 | All versions | 2:1.5.13-8.el7_9.1 |
libpng-static Red Hat:rhel_els:7 | All versions | 2:1.5.13-8.el7_9.1 |
libpng15 SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 | All versions | 1.5.30-10.13.1 |
Products include Libpng Libpng.
How do I fix CVE-2025-64720?
Upgrade to a fixed version.
Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.
Is CVE-2025-64720 being exploited?
It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2025-64720 exists.
Public exploit code: 1 proofs of concept on GitHub.
Other vulnerabilities in Libpng Libpng
- CVE-2017-12652 Denial of service in n/a
- CVE-2018-14550 Out-of-bounds write in libpng
- CVE-2026-25646 LIBPNG has a heap buffer overflow in png_set_quantize
- CVE-2026-33636 LIBPNG has ARM NEON Palette Expansion Out-of-Bounds Read on AArch64
- CVE-2026-33416 LIBPNG has use-after-free via pointer aliasing in `png_set_tRNS` and `png_set_PLTE`
Sources
Also known as A-463995203, ALPINE-CVE-2025-64720, ASB-A-463995203, AZL-70847, AZL-70868, AZL-70883 and 15 more.