Description
Stack-based buffer overflow in the read_1_3_textobject function in f_readold.c in Xfig 3.2.5b and earlier, and in the read_textobject function in read1_3.c in fig2dev in Transfig 3.2.5a and earlier, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long string in a malformed .fig file that uses the 1.3 file format. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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 | xfig | 1:3.2.5.b-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | xfig | 1:3.2.5.b-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | xfig | 1:3.2.5.b-1 | — |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | xfig | 3.2.6-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10483-1 |
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.
Exploit-DB 1
- Xfig and Transfig 3.2.5 - '.fig' Remote Buffer Overflow EDB-33388 · remote · Dec 3, 2009 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10483-1 xfig-3.2.6-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- 37577 third-party-advisory
- [oss-security] 20091203 CVE Request -- xfig mailing-list
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=559274
- 37193 vdb-entry
- MDVSA-2011:010 vendor-advisory
- xfig-read13textobject-bo(54525) vdb-entry
- ADV-2011-0108 vdb-entry
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=543905
- 37571 third-party-advisory