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Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2021-4214

🗓️ 27 Aug 2025 00:00:00Reported by TenableType 
nessus
 nessus
🔗 www.tenable.com👁 2 Views

Unpatched Linux CVE-2021-4214 libpng pngimage.c enables denial of service via crafted PNG.

Related
Refs
Code
ReporterTitlePublishedViews
Family
ATTACKERKB
CVE-2021-4214
24 Aug 202216:15
attackerkb
Information Security Automation
Scanvus now supports Vulners and Vulns.io VM Linux vulnerability detection APIs
30 Dec 202218:03
avleonov
BDU FSTEC
The vulnerability of the pngimage.c component in the libpng library, which allows a hacker to cause a service failure.
11 Sep 202300:00
bdu_fstec
Circl
CVE-2021-4214
7 Dec 202521:52
circl
CNNVD
libpng 缓冲区错误漏洞
24 Aug 202200:00
cnnvd
CVE
CVE-2021-4214
24 Aug 202200:00
cve
Cvelist
CVE-2021-4214
24 Aug 202200:00
cvelist
Debian CVE
CVE-2021-4214
24 Aug 202200:00
debiancve
EUVD
EUVD-2021-34072
3 Oct 202520:07
euvd
NVD
CVE-2021-4214
24 Aug 202216:15
nvd
Rows per page
#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80900
##
# (C) Tenable, Inc.
##

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(256237);
  script_version("1.2");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2026/04/28");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2021-4214");

  script_name(english:"Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2021-4214");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed with a vulnerability that the vendor indicates will not be
patched.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied
patch available.

  - A heap overflow flaw was found in libpngs' pngimage.c program. This flaw allows an attacker with local
    network access to pass a specially crafted PNG file to the pngimage utility, causing an application to
    crash, leading to a denial of service. (CVE-2021-4214)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2021-4214");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"There is no known solution at this time.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"agent", value:"unix");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:POC/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:P/RL:U/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2021-4214");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vendor_unpatched", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2022/08/24");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2025/08/27");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:11.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:12.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:13.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:14.0");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:libpng1.6");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Misc.");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2025-2026 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info2.nasl", "set_linux_os_id.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/cpu", "Host/local_checks_enabled", "global_settings/vendor_unpatched", "Host/OS/identifier");
  script_require_ports("Host/OS/Debian Linux-11", "Host/OS/Debian Linux-12", "Host/OS/Debian Linux-13", "Host/OS/Debian Linux-14");

  exit(0);
}

if (!get_kb_item("global_settings/vendor_unpatched")) exit(0, "Unpatched Vulnerabilities Detection not active.");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l"))) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);

include('linux_unpatched.inc');

var distro_constraints_array = {
  "Debian Linux-11": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "11",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libpng-dev"},
          {"reference": "libpng-tools"},
          {"reference": "libpng16-16"},
          {"reference": "libpng16-16-udeb"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Debian Linux-12": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "12",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libpng-dev"},
          {"reference": "libpng-tools"},
          {"reference": "libpng16-16"},
          {"reference": "libpng16-16-udeb"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Debian Linux-13": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "13",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libpng-dev"},
          {"reference": "libpng-tools"},
          {"reference": "libpng16-16-udeb"},
          {"reference": "libpng16-16t64"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Debian Linux-14": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "14",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "libpng-dev"},
          {"reference": "libpng-tools"},
          {"reference": "libpng16-16-udeb"},
          {"reference": "libpng16-16t64"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
};

var distro_constraints_values = linux_unpatched::get_distro_constraints(distro_constraints_arr:distro_constraints_array);
if (empty_or_null(distro_constraints_values)) audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
var report = linux_unpatched::check_unpatched_constraints(distro_constraints_values:distro_constraints_values);

if (!empty_or_null(report))
{
  security_report_v4(
      port       : 0,
      severity   : SECURITY_HOLE,
      extra      : report
  );
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
}

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28 Apr 2026 00:00Current
6.4Medium risk
Vulners AI Score6.4
CVSS 3.15.5
EPSS0.0013
2