Description
FreeType2 before 2.3.6 allow context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via an invalid "number of axes" field in a Printer Font Binary (PFB) file, which triggers a free of arbitrary memory locations, leading to memory corruption.
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 | 2.3.6-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | freetype | 2.3.6-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | freetype | 2.3.6-1 | — |
| Debian 5.0 | freetype | 2.3.5-1+lenny1 | DTSA-139-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | freetype | 2.2.1-5+etch3 | DSA-1635-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | freetype +2 | 2.2.1-20.el5_2 | RHSA-2008:0556 |
| RHEL 4 | freetype +3 | 2.1.9-8.el4.6 | RHSA-2008:0556 |
| RHEL 3 | freetype +1 | 2.1.4-10.el3 | RHSA-2008:0556 |
| RHEL 2 | freetype +2 | 2.0.3-15.el21 | RHSA-2008:0558 |
Advisories 4
- RHSA-2008:0556 Red Hat Security Advisory: freetype security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2008:0558 Red Hat Security Advisory: freetype security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1635-1 freetype - multiple vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DTSA-139-1 freetype - multiple vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 20080814 rPSA-2008-0255-1 freetype mailing-list
- GLSA-201209-25 vendor-advisory
- 29641 vdb-entry
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2008-0014.html
- FEDORA-2008-5430 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9767 vdb-entry signature
- 33937 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2008-1876 vdb-entry
- 30721 third-party-advisory
- MDVSA-2008:121 vendor-advisory
- 1020239 vdb-entry
- ADV-2008-2525 vdb-entry
- 31712 third-party-advisory
- 31709 third-party-advisory
- http://sourceforge.net/project/shownotes.php?group_id=3157&release_id=605780
- http://www.vmware.com/support/server/doc/releasenotes_server.html
- 30740 third-party-advisory
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3438
- GLSA-200806-10 vendor-advisory
- 30766 third-party-advisory
- 31479 third-party-advisory
- APPLE-SA-2009-02-12 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2008-2423 vdb-entry
- http://www.vmware.com/support/player2/doc/releasenotes_player2.html
- 30967 third-party-advisory
- 239006 vendor-advisory
- https://issues.rpath.com/browse/RPL-2608
- 30821 third-party-advisory
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3026
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3129
- http://www.vmware.com/support/player/doc/releasenotes_player.html
- FEDORA-2008-5425 vendor-advisory
- http://www.vmware.com/support/ws6/doc/releasenotes_ws6.html
- 31856 third-party-advisory
- 20080830 VMSA-2008-0014 Updates to VMware Workstation, VMware Player, VMware ACE, VMware Server, VMware ESX address information disclosure, privilege escalation and other security issues. mailing-list
- 31711 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2008:0556 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SR:2008:014 vendor-advisory
- http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2008-0255
- 20080610 Multiple Vendor FreeType2 PFB Memory Corruption Vulnerability third-party-advisory
- APPLE-SA-2008-09-12 vendor-advisory
- 20080830 VMSA-2008-0014 Updates to VMware Workstation, VMware Player, VMware ACE, VMware Server, VMware ESX address information disclosure, privilege escalation and other security issues. mailing-list
- ADV-2008-1794 vdb-entry
- 31823 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2008-2558 vdb-entry
- 30600 third-party-advisory
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2008-318.htm
- http://www.vmware.com/support/ws55/doc/releasenotes_ws55.html
- 31900 third-party-advisory
- 30819 third-party-advisory
- 31707 third-party-advisory
- APPLE-SA-2008-09-09 vendor-advisory
- USN-643-1 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2008:0558 vendor-advisory
- 31577 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2008-2466 vdb-entry