Description
Integer underflow in Freetype before 2.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a font file with an odd number of blue values, which causes the underflow when decrementing by 2 in a context that assumes an even number of values.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | freetype | 2.2.1-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | freetype | 2.2.1-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | freetype | 2.2.1-1 | — |
| Debian 3.1 | freetype | 2.1.7-2.5 | DSA-1095-1 |
| Debian 3.0 | freetype | 2.0.9-1woody1 | DSA-1095-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 4 | freetype +3 | 2.1.9-1.rhel4.4 | RHSA-2006:0500 |
| RHEL 3 | freetype +1 | 2.1.4-4.0.rhel3.2 | RHSA-2006:0500 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- FreeType - '.TTF' File Remote Buffer Overflow EDB-27992 · remote · Jun 8, 2006 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2006:0500 Red Hat Security Advisory: freetype security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1095-1 freetype - integer overflows Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- SUSE-SA:2006:037 vendor-advisory
- 20791 third-party-advisory
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3549
- 102705 vendor-advisory
- 20525 third-party-advisory
- 21701 third-party-advisory
- USN-291-1 vendor-advisory
- 21385 third-party-advisory
- 35074 third-party-advisory
- APPLE-SA-2009-05-12 vendor-advisory
- 20060612 rPSA-2006-0100-1 freetype mailing-list
- 21135 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2006:0500 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9508 vdb-entry signature
- 18326 vdb-entry
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=183676
- 23939 third-party-advisory
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2006-176.htm
- 20591 third-party-advisory
- TA09-133A third-party-advisory
- ADV-2009-1297 vdb-entry
- 20638 third-party-advisory
- 1016522 vdb-entry
- ADV-2007-0381 vdb-entry
- https://issues.rpath.com/browse/RPL-429
- 21062 third-party-advisory
- MDKSA-2006:099 vendor-advisory
- DSA-1095 vendor-advisory