CVE-2026-33636 Details
Description
LIBPNG is a reference library for use in applications that read, create, and manipulate PNG (Portable Network Graphics) raster image files. In versions 1.6.36 through 1.6.55, an out-of-bounds read and write exists in libpng's ARM/AArch64 Neon-optimized palette expansion path. When expanding 8-bit paletted rows to RGB or RGBA, the Neon loop processes a final partial chunk without verifying that enough input pixels remain. Because the implementation works backward from the end of the row, the final iteration dereferences pointers before the start of the row buffer (OOB read) and writes expanded pixel data to the same underflowed positions (OOB write). This is reachable via normal decoding of attacker-controlled PNG input if Neon is enabled. Version 1.6.56 fixes the issue.
A vulnerability allowing out-of-bounds (OOB) read and write operations has been identified in libpng versions 1.6.36 prior to 1.6.55. This issue arises in the library's ARM/AArch64 Neon-optimized palette expansion path when converting 8-bit paletted rows to RGB or RGBA. The Neon loop improperly processes the final partial chunk, leading to OOB reads and writes. The vulnerability can be exploited during the normal decoding of attacker-controlled PNG files, provided that Neon is enabled.
Users can upgrade to libpng version 1.6.56 or 1.8.0 (trunk), both of which address this vulnerability. Alternatively, libpng can be built with hardware optimizations disabled to avoid the issue.
Metrics
CVSS 4.0 Severity and Vector Strings:
No CVSS 4.0 data is available for this CVE.
CVSS 3.x Severity and Vector Strings:
No data available for CVSS Version 2.0 on this CVE.
CISA-ADP
Assessed Mar 26, 2026References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
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Weakness Enumeration
| CWE-ID | CWE Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CWE-125 | Out-of-bounds Read | [email protected] |
| CWE-787 | Out-of-bounds Write | [email protected] |
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| libpng libpng | >= 1.6.36, < 1.6.56 |
CPE
Remediation
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Change History
4 change records found show changes
| Date | Action | Recorded By |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 2026 | CVE Modified | [email protected] |
| Jun 17, 2026 | CVE Modified | CISA-ADP |
| Apr 2, 2026 | Initial Analysis | [email protected] |
| Mar 26, 2026 | New CVE Received | [email protected] |