CVE-2002-0728: Buffer overflow in the progressive reader for libpng 1.2.x before 1.2.4, and 1.0.x before 1.0.14, allows attac

Routine

MEDIUM 5.0DOWNGRADE

CVE-2002-0728 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.0) affecting libpng. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Buffer overflow in the progressive reader for libpng 1.2.x before 1.2.4, and 1.0.x before 1.0.14, allows attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a PNG data stream that has more IDAT data than indicated by the IHDR chunk.

Why this priority

No elevated risk signals yet

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.0 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	2.1% (top 18%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2002-08-12
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: greg roelofs

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2002-08-12 04:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 21:58 UTCUpdated Record last modified

greg roelofs libpng DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.0.14 · 1.2.4

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.0.14

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy libpng || rpm -q libpng || libpng --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.0.14 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison libpng sudo apt install libpng=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.0.14> sudo apt-mark hold libpng

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list libpng sudo dnf downgrade libpng-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.0.14> sudo dnf versionlock add libpng

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2002-0728?

libpng: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2002-0728 being exploited?

CVE-2002-0728 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2002-0728 affect?

CVE-2002-0728 affects libpng. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.0). Buffer overflow in the progressive reader for libpng 1.2.x before 1.2.4, and 1.0.x before 1.0.14, allows attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a PNG data stream that has more IDAT data than indicated by the IHDR chunk.

How urgent is CVE-2002-0728?

Priority 38/100. No elevated risk signals yet.

Software pages

libpng vulnerabilities

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References

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