Description
Integer signedness error in psaux/t1decode.c in FreeType before 2.4.6, as used in CoreGraphics in Apple iOS before 4.2.9 and 4.3.x before 4.3.4 and other products, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted Type 1 font in a PDF document, as exploited in the wild in July 2011.
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 | 2.4.6-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | freetype | 2.4.6-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | freetype | 2.4.6-1 | — |
| Debian 6.0 | freetype | 2.4.2-2.1+squeeze1 | DSA-2294-1 |
| Debian 5.0 | freetype | 2.3.7-2+lenny6 | DSA-2294-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | freetype +2 | 2.3.11-6.el6_1.6 | RHSA-2011:1085 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | ft2demos +1 | 2.7-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10438-1, openSUSE-SU-2024:10172-1 |
Advisories 4
- RHSA-2011:1085 Red Hat Security Advisory: freetype security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-2294-1 freetype - missing input sanitization Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10438-1 freetype2-devel-2.7-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10172-1 ft2demos-2.7-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- 45224 third-party-advisory
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4803
- APPLE-SA-2011-07-15-1 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2011:0852 vendor-advisory
- 48619 vdb-entry
- [freetype-devel] 20110709 Re: details on iPhone exploit caused by FreeType? mailing-list
- APPLE-SA-2011-07-15-2 vendor-advisory
- 45167 third-party-advisory
- APPLE-SA-2011-10-12-3 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2011:1085 vendor-advisory
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4802
- [freetype-devel] 20110708 Re: details on iPhone exploit caused by FreeType? mailing-list
- SUSE-SU-2011:0853 vendor-advisory
- [freetype-devel] 20110711 Re: details on iPhone exploit caused by FreeType? mailing-list
- DSA-2294 vendor-advisory
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5002
- MDVSA-2011:120 vendor-advisory
- http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/07/06/hackers_release_new_browser_based_ios_jailbreak_based_on_pdf_exploit.html
- [freetype-devel] 20110708 details on iPhone exploit caused by FreeType? mailing-list
- [freetype-devel] 20110711 Re: details on iPhone exploit caused by FreeType? mailing-list