Stack-based buffer overflow in the bdfReadCharacters function in bitmap/bdfread.c in X.Org libXfont 1.1 through 1.4.6 allows remote attacker
Stack-based buffer overflow in the bdfReadCharacters function in bitmap/bdfread.c in X.Org libXfont 1.1 through 1.4.6 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a long string in a character name in a BDF font file.
- Published
- Jan 9, 2014
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 10.3% · 96th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-119
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Report tools
Action score
40
Plan
Add it to your regular patch cycle.
- CVSS
- 37 / 40 · 9.3 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 3 / 30 · 10.3%
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| x | libxfont | cpe:2.3:a:x:libxfont |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- x libxfont1.1.0
- x libxfont1.2.0
- x libxfont1.2.1
- x libxfont1.2.2
- x libxfont1.2.3
- x libxfont1.2.4
- x libxfont1.2.5
- x libxfont1.2.6
- x libxfont1.2.7
- x libxfont1.2.8
- x libxfont1.2.9
- x libxfont1.3.0
- x libxfont1.3.1
- x libxfont1.3.2
- x libxfont1.3.3
- x libxfont1.3.4
- x libxfont1.4.0
- x libxfont1.4.1
- x libxfont1.4.2
- x libxfont1.4.3
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | libxfont | before 1:1.4.7-1 | 1:1.4.7-1 |
| Debian:6.0 | libxfont | before 1:1.4.1-4 | 1:1.4.1-4 |
| Debian:7 | libxfont | before 1:1.4.5-3 | 1:1.4.5-3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | libXfont | before 0:1.2.2-1.0.5.el5_10 | 0:1.2.2-1.0.5.el5_10 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | libXfont-debuginfo | before 0:1.2.2-1.0.5.el5_10 | 0:1.2.2-1.0.5.el5_10 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | libXfont-devel | before 0:1.2.2-1.0.5.el5_10 | 0:1.2.2-1.0.5.el5_10 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | libXfont | before 0:1.4.5-3.el6_5 | 0:1.4.5-3.el6_5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | libXfont-debuginfo | before 0:1.4.5-3.el6_5 | 0:1.4.5-3.el6_5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | libXfont-devel | before 0:1.4.5-3.el6_5 | 0:1.4.5-3.el6_5 |
Same product
x: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2007-5199A single byte overflow in catalogue.c in X.Org libXfont 1.3.1 allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact.40Plan
- CVE-2011-2895The LZW decompressor in (1) the BufCompressedFill function in fontfile/decompress.c in X.Org libXfont before 1.4.4 and (2) compress/compress40Plan
- CVE-2026-56003libXfont2 computeProps Property Buffer Heap Buffer Overflow35Monitor
- CVE-2026-56002libXfont2 PCF Font Parsing Heap Buffer Overflow35Monitor
- CVE-2026-56001libXfont2 BitmapScaleBitmaps Integer Overflow Heap Buffer Overflow35Monitor
- CVE-2015-1804The bdfReadCharacters function in bitmap/bdfread.c in X.Org libXfont before 1.4.9 and 1.5.x before 1.5.1 does not properly perform type conv35Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:libxfont | 1:1.4.7-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:libXfont | 0:1.2.2-1.0.5.el5_10 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:libXfont-debuginfo | 0:1.2.2-1.0.5.el5_10 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:libXfont-devel | 0:1.2.2-1.0.5.el5_10 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
If successful
- Confidentiality
- C · data can be read
- Integrity
- C · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- C · the service can be disrupted
- Attack complexity
- M
- Confidentiality impact
- C
- Integrity impact
- C
- Availability impact
- C
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-119 · Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory BufferCVSS vector
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Buffer Overflow via Environment VariablesCAPEC-10likelihood: High · High
- Overflow BuffersCAPEC-100likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer ManipulationCAPEC-123likelihood: High · Very High
- Client-side Injection-induced Buffer OverflowCAPEC-14likelihood: Medium · High
- Filter Failure through Buffer OverflowCAPEC-24likelihood: High · High
- MIME ConversionCAPEC-42likelihood: High · High
- Overflow Binary Resource FileCAPEC-44likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer Overflow via Symbolic LinksCAPEC-45likelihood: High · High
ATT&CK techniques
—
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2014-01/msg00050.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2014-01/msg00052.html
- lists.x.org/archives/xorg-announce/2014-January/002389.html
- osvdb.org/101842
- rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2014-0018.html
- seclists.org/oss-sec/2014/q1/33
- secunia.com/advisories/56240
- secunia.com/advisories/56336
- secunia.com/advisories/56357
- secunia.com/advisories/56371
- www.debian.org/security/2014/dsa-2838
- www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/cpuapr2014-1972952.html
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/64694
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2078-1
- exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/90123
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.