Description
Stack-based buffer overflow in the bdfReadCharacters function in bitmap/bdfread.c in X.Org libXfont 1.1 through 1.4.6 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a long string in a character name in a BDF font file.
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 | libxfont | 1:1.4.7-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | libxfont | 1:1.4.7-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | libxfont | 1:1.4.7-1 | — |
| Debian 7 | libxfont | 1:1.4.5-3 | DSA-2838-1 |
| Debian 6.0 | libxfont | 1:1.4.1-4 | DSA-2838-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | libXfont +1 | 1.4.5-3.el6_5 | RHSA-2014:0018 |
| RHEL 5 | libXfont +1 | 1.2.2-1.0.5.el5_10 | RHSA-2014:0018 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2014:0018 Red Hat Security Advisory: libXfont security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-2838-1 libxfont - buffer overflow Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- openSUSE-SU-2014:0075 vendor-advisory
- [xorg-announce] 20140107 X.Org Security Advisory: CVE-2013-6462: Stack buffer overflow in parsing of BDF font files in libXfont mailing-list
- DSA-2838 vendor-advisory
- 56357 third-party-advisory
- [oss-security] 20140107 Fwd: X.Org Security Advisory: CVE-2013-6462: Stack buffer overflow in parsing of BDF font files in libXfont mailing-list
- RHSA-2014:0018 vendor-advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/cpuapr2014-1972952.html
- 56240 third-party-advisory
- 56336 third-party-advisory
- USN-2078-1 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2014:0073 vendor-advisory
- 56371 third-party-advisory
- 101842 vdb-entry
- 64694 vdb-entry
- http://cgit.freedesktop.org/xorg/lib/libXfont/commit/?id=4d024ac10f964f6bd372ae0dd14f02772a6e5f63
- libxfont-cve20136462-bo(90123) vdb-entry