Problem: LaTeX gives the section number instead of the figure number in a text reference.
Solution: Be sure that the figure’s label is AFTER its caption.
Correct:
\begin{figure}
\includegraphics{./images/myimage.png}
\caption{A beautiful, wonderful image.}
\label{fig:myimage}
\end{figure}
Wrong:
\begin{figure}
\includegraphics{./images/myimage.png}
\label{fig:myimage}
\caption{A beautiful, wonderful image.}
\end{figure}
LaTeX requires \label to follow \caption. That is, a \label preceding a \caption is ignored.
If you’re getting section numbers instead of figure numbers as the response to a \ref, check where the \label is specified.