CVE-2004-0597: Multiple buffer overflows in libpng 1.2.5 and earlier, as used in multiple products, allow remote attackers to

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HIGH 10.0WATCHLISTUPGRADEDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2004-0597 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 10.0) affecting libpng, msn messenger, windows media player. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

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.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	10.0 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	81.9% (top 1%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2004-11-23
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: greg roelofs · microsoft

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2004-11-23 05:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:05 UTCUpdated Record last modified

greg roelofs libpng UPGRADE

Affected: <= 1.2.5

Fixed in: newer than 1.2.5

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to newer than 1.2.5 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade libpng

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade libpng

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

microsoft msn messenger DOWNGRADE

Affected: 6.1 · 6.2

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.1

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy msn-messenger || rpm -q msn-messenger || msn-messenger --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 6.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison msn-messenger sudo apt install msn-messenger=<VERSION_BEFORE_6.1> sudo apt-mark hold msn-messenger

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

dnf --showduplicates list msn-messenger sudo dnf downgrade msn-messenger-<VERSION_BEFORE_6.1> sudo dnf versionlock add msn-messenger

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.

microsoft windows media player DOWNGRADE

Affected: 9

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 9

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy windows-media-player || rpm -q windows-media-player || windows-media-player --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 9 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison windows-media-player sudo apt install windows-media-player=<VERSION_BEFORE_9> sudo apt-mark hold windows-media-player

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

dnf --showduplicates list windows-media-player sudo dnf downgrade windows-media-player-<VERSION_BEFORE_9> sudo dnf versionlock add windows-media-player

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.

microsoft windows messenger DOWNGRADE

Affected: 5.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 5.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy windows-messenger || rpm -q windows-messenger || windows-messenger --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 5.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison windows-messenger sudo apt install windows-messenger=<VERSION_BEFORE_5.0> sudo apt-mark hold windows-messenger

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

dnf --showduplicates list windows-messenger sudo dnf downgrade windows-messenger-<VERSION_BEFORE_5.0> sudo dnf versionlock add windows-messenger

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.

microsoft windows 98se MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

microsoft windows me MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora ELN · fuse-sshfs · FIXED · 3.7.6-3.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-bcb7be7c5c · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-bcb7be7c5c

Fedora 46 · python-odata-query · FIXED · 0.10.1-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-eab44dc513 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-eab44dc513

RHEL 3 · libpng · FIXED · libpng-1.2.2-25

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2004:402 rpm -q libpng

RHEL 3 · libpng10 · FIXED · libpng10-1.0.13-15

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2004:402 rpm -q libpng10

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Write-up: docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2005/ms05-009
Exploit-DB: LibPNG 1.2.5 - 'png_jmpbuf()' Local Buffer Overflow
Exploit-DB: LibPNG Graphics Library - Remote Buffer Overflow
Exploit-DB: Microsoft MSN Messenger 6.2.0137 - '.png' Remote Buffer Overflow

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-2004-0597?

libpng: upgrade to newer than 1.2.5; msn messenger: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; windows media player: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2004-0597 being exploited?

CVE-2004-0597 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-2004-0597 affect?

CVE-2004-0597 affects libpng, msn messenger, windows media player. Severity is high (CVSS 10.0). 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 o

How urgent is CVE-2004-0597?

Priority 70/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Windows vulnerabilities · libpng vulnerabilities

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References

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