Description
xrdb.c in xrdb before 1.0.9 in X.Org X11R7.6 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in a hostname obtained from a (1) DHCP or (2) XDMCP message.
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 | x11-xserver-utils | 7.6+2 | — |
| Debian 13 | x11-xserver-utils | 7.6+2 | — |
| Debian 12 | x11-xserver-utils | 7.6+2 | — |
| Debian 6.0 | x11-xserver-utils | 7.5+3 | DSA-2213-1 |
| Debian 5.0 | x11-xserver-utils | 7.3+6 | DSA-2213-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | xorg-x11-server-utils | 7.4-15.el6_0.1 | RHSA-2011:0433 |
| RHEL 5 | xorg-x11-server-utils | 7.1-5.el5_6.1 | RHSA-2011:0433 |
| RHEL 4 | xorg-x11 +17 | 6.8.2-1.EL.67 | RHSA-2011:0432 |
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2011:0433 Red Hat Security Advisory: xorg-x11-server-utils security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2011:0432 Red Hat Security Advisory: xorg-x11 security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-2213-1 x11-xserver-utils - missing input sanitizing Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- [xorg-announce] 20110405 X.Org security advisory: root hole via rogue hostname mailing-list
- RHSA-2011:0433 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2011-0966 vdb-entry
- 44040 third-party-advisory
- DSA-2213 vendor-advisory
- 44082 third-party-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=680196
- 1025317 vdb-entry
- 47189 vdb-entry
- FEDORA-2011-4871 vendor-advisory
- 44123 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2011-0880 vdb-entry
- ADV-2011-0906 vdb-entry
- 44012 third-party-advisory
- http://cgit.freedesktop.org/xorg/app/xrdb/commit/?id=1027d5df07398c1507fb1fe3a9981aa6b4bc3a56
- 44010 third-party-advisory
- xorg11-xrdb-command-execution(66585) vdb-entry
- USN-1107-1 vendor-advisory
- SSA:2011-096-01 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2011-0889 vdb-entry
- ADV-2011-0929 vdb-entry
- 44122 third-party-advisory
- [xorg-announce] 20110405 xrdb 1.0.9 mailing-list
- MDVSA-2011:076 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2011:0432 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2011-0975 vdb-entry
- 44193 third-party-advisory
- SUSE-SA:2011:016 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2011:0298 vendor-advisory