LIBPNG is a reference library for use in applications that read, create, and manipulate PNG (Portable Network Graphics) raster image files. In versions 1.2.1 through 1.6.55, png_set_tRNS and png_set_PLTE each alias a heap-allocated buffer between png_struct and png_info, sharing a single allocation across two structs with independent lifetimes. The trans_alpha aliasing has been present since at least libpng 1.0, and the palette aliasing since at least 1.2.1.

Both affect all prior release lines png_set_tRNS sets png_ptr-trans_alpha = info_ptr-trans_alpha (256-byte buffer) and png_set_PLTE sets info_ptr-palette = png_ptr-palette (768-byte buffer). In both cases, calling png_free_data (with PNG_FREE_TRNS or PNG_FREE_PLTE) frees the buffer through info_ptr while the corresponding png_ptr pointer remains dangling. Subsequent row-transform functions dereference and, in some code paths, write to the freed memory.

A second call to png_set_tRNS or png_set_PLTE has the same effect, because both functions call png_free_data internally before reallocating the info_ptr buffer. Version 1.6.56 fixes the issue.