CVE-2015-8540
CWE-189Published: April 14, 2016· Updated: Jun 17, 2026
Official Description
Integer underflow in the png_check_keyword function in pngwutil.c in libpng 0.90 through 0.99, 1.0.x before 1.0.66, 1.1.x and 1.2.x before 1.2.56, 1.3.x and 1.4.x before 1.4.19, and 1.5.x before 1.5.26 allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact via a space character as a keyword in a PNG image, which triggers an out-of-bounds read.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2015-8540 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.
Exploitation does not require any privileges, though user interaction (Required) is needed, which slightly reduces the risk of mass automated attacks.
A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 8.8.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
Official Patches & Advisories
All References (38)
Quick Facts
Related CVEs (CWE-189)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2015-8540 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts