CVE-2026-33636
7.6 · HIGHOverview
CVE-2026-33636 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting libpng libpng. It was published on March 26, 2026 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.6 (HIGH).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.6, rated HIGH. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
Technical 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.
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from libpng. Update libpng to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| libpng | libpng | >= 1.6.36, < 1.6.56 | Affected |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-33636?
CVE-2026-33636 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting libpng libpng. It was published on March 26, 2026 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.6 (HIGH).
How severe is CVE-2026-33636?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.6, rated HIGH. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2026-33636?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from libpng. Update libpng to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2026-33636?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2026-33636 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
How CyberStrike Helps
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