CVE-2011-2501

Name: CVE-2011-2501
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2011-07-17T20:55:01.483+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

MEDIUMCVSS 6.5/10EPSS 3.36%

Last modified Jun 16, 2026

CVE-2011-2501 is a medium-severity vulnerability rated 6.5/10 on the CVSS scale. The png_format_buffer function in pngerror.c in libpng 1.0.x before 1.0.55, 1.2.x before 1.2.45, 1.4.x before 1.4.8, and 1.5.x before 1.5.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted PNG image that triggers an out-of-bounds read during the copying of error-message data. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of a CVE-2004-0421 regression. EPSS estimates a 3.36% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

The png_format_buffer function in pngerror.c in libpng 1.0.x before 1.0.55, 1.2.x before 1.2.45, 1.4.x before 1.4.8, and 1.5.x before 1.5.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted PNG image that triggers an out-of-bounds read during the copying of error-message data. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of a CVE-2004-0421 regression. NOTE: this is called an off-by-one error by some sources.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

6.5/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

EPSS Probability

3.36%

87.2th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-125

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Libpng	Libpng	>= 1.0.0, < 1.0.55
Libpng	Libpng	>= 1.2.0, < 1.2.45
Libpng	Libpng	>= 1.4.0, < 1.4.8
Libpng	Libpng	>= 1.5.0, < 1.5.4
Fedoraproject	Fedora	14
Debian	Debian Linux	5.0
Debian	Debian Linux	6.0
Canonical	Ubuntu Linux	8.04
Canonical	Ubuntu Linux	10.04
Canonical	Ubuntu Linux	10.10
Canonical	Ubuntu Linux	11.04

References

http://libpng.git.sourceforge.net/git/gitweb.cgi?p=libpng/libpng%3Ba=commit%3Bh=65e6d5a34f49acdb362a0625a706c6b914e670af
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2011-July/062720.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2011-July/063118.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/45046Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/45289Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/45405Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/45415Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/45460Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/45486Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/45492Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/49660Broken Link
http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-201206-15.xmlThird Party Advisory
http://slackware.com/security/viewer.php?l=slackware-security&y=2011&m=slackware-security.617466Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?thread_name=BANLkTikrnU6FJNQYFvwmt78hwpgKPVRd1Q%40mail.gmail.com&forum_name=png-mng-implementExploit, Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2287Third Party Advisory
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2011:151Broken Link
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/06/27/13Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/06/28/16Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2011-1105.htmlBroken Link
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/48474Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1175-1Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=717084Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/68517Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://libpng.git.sourceforge.net/git/gitweb.cgi?p=libpng/libpng%3Ba=commit%3Bh=65e6d5a34f49acdb362a0625a706c6b914e670af
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2011-July/062720.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2011-July/063118.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/45046Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/45289Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/45405Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/45415Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/45460Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/45486Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/45492Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/49660Broken Link
http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-201206-15.xmlThird Party Advisory
http://slackware.com/security/viewer.php?l=slackware-security&y=2011&m=slackware-security.617466Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?thread_name=BANLkTikrnU6FJNQYFvwmt78hwpgKPVRd1Q%40mail.gmail.com&forum_name=png-mng-implementExploit, Issue Tracking, Third Party Advisory
http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2287Third Party Advisory
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2011:151Broken Link
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/06/27/13Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/06/28/16Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2011-1105.htmlBroken Link
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/48474Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1175-1Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=717084Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/68517Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry

Timeline

Published: Jul 17, 2011
Last Modified: Jun 16, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2011-2501?

How severe is CVE-2011-2501?

CVE-2011-2501 has a CVSS score of 6.5/10 (MEDIUM severity). The EPSS model estimates a 3.36% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2011-2501?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2011-2501?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST