CVE-2004-0597

libpng < 1.2.5 - Remote Code Execution via Malformed PNG Image

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 3 public exploits for CVE-2004-0597. PoCs published by ATmaCA, anonymous, infamous41md.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit generates a malicious PNG file targeting a buffer overflow in MSN Messenger (CVE-2004-0597). It embeds a download-and-execute shellcode to fetch and run arbitrary code from a specified URL.

Description

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.

Exploits (3)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by ATmaCA · cremotewindows
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/25094

This exploit generates a malicious PNG file targeting a buffer overflow in MSN Messenger (CVE-2004-0597). It embeds a download-and-execute shellcode to fetch and run arbitrary code from a specified URL.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: MSN Messenger 6.2.0137
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Victim must open the malicious PNG file in MSN Messenger
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by anonymous · clocallinux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/393

This exploit demonstrates a denial-of-service (DoS) vulnerability in libpng by attempting to read a malformed PNG file, which can cause the application to crash. The code uses the libpng library to parse a PNG file, and if the file is malformed, it triggers an error condition that leads to a crash.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: libpng versions prior to 1.0.15
No auth needed
Prerequisites: A malformed PNG file
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by infamous41md · cremotelinux
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/389

This exploit targets a buffer overflow vulnerability in libpng 1.2.5 by crafting a malicious PNG file with a tRNS chunk containing shellcode. The exploit bypasses a length check by omitting the PLTE chunk, leading to arbitrary code execution when the file is processed.

Classification
Working Poc 95%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: libpng 1.2.5
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Ability to deliver a malicious PNG file to the target system · Target system must process the PNG file with a vulnerable libpng version
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →

References (42)

Core 42
Core References
Patch, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_trustix
http://www.trustix.net/errata/2004/0040/
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_sunalert
http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-66-200663-1
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A2274
Various Sources vendor-advisory x_refsource_sco
ftp://ftp.sco.com/pub/updates/OpenServer/SCOSA-2005.49/SCOSA-2005.49.txt
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2004-421.html
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2004-402.html
Patch, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_gentoo
http://www.gentoo.org/security/en/glsa/glsa-200408-22.xml
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/22958
Mailing List vendor-advisory x_refsource_fedora
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=109900315219363&w=2
Issue Tracking vendor-advisory x_refsource_fedora
https://bugzilla.fedora.us/show_bug.cgi?id=1943
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A594
Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource third-party-advisory x_refsource_cert
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA05-039A.html
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_xf
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/16894
Mailing List vendor-advisory x_refsource_sco
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=109761239318458&w=2
Exploit, Vendor Advisory x_refsource_misc
http://scary.beasts.org/security/CESA-2004-001.txt
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_redhat
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2004-429.html
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A2378
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/15495
Patch, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_debian
http://www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-536
Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource third-party-advisory x_refsource_cert-vn
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/388984
Mailing List vendor-advisory x_refsource_apple
http://lists.apple.com/mhonarc/security-announce/msg00056.html
Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource third-party-advisory x_refsource_cert-vn
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/817368
Mailing List mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=109163866717909&w=2
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A4492
Mailing List vendor-advisory x_refsource_hp
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=109181639602978&w=2
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_mandriva
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDKSA-2006:213
Third Party Advisory, US Government Resource third-party-advisory x_refsource_cert
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA04-217A.html
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A7709
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_mandriva
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDKSA-2006:212
Mailing List mailing-list x_refsource_bugtraq
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=110796779903455&w=2
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_conectiva
http://distro.conectiva.com.br/atualizacoes/?id=a&anuncio=000856
Exploit, Patch, Vendor Advisory vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/10857
Patch, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_suse
http://www.novell.com/linux/security/advisories/2004_23_libpng.html
Patch, Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_gentoo
http://www.gentoo.org/security/en/glsa/glsa-200408-03.xml
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry signature x_refsource_oval
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A11284
Vendor Advisory vendor-advisory x_refsource_mandrake
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDKSA-2004:079
Third Party Advisory third-party-advisory x_refsource_secunia
http://secunia.com/advisories/22957

Scores

EPSS 0.8254
EPSS Percentile 99.6%

Details

Status published
Products (7)
greg_roelofs/libpng < 1.2.5
microsoft/msn_messenger 6.1
microsoft/msn_messenger 6.2
microsoft/windows_98se
microsoft/windows_me
microsoft/windows_media_player 9
microsoft/windows_messenger 5.0
Published Nov 23, 2004
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026