Description
Multiple integer overflows in the (1) FontFileAddEntry and (2) lexAlias functions in X.Org libXfont before 1.4.8 and 1.4.9x before 1.4.99.901 might allow local users to gain privileges by adding a directory with a large fonts.dir or fonts.alias file to the font path, which triggers a heap-based buffer overflow, related to metadata.
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 | 1:1.4.7-2 | — |
| Debian 13 | libxfont | 1:1.4.7-2 | — |
| Debian 12 | libxfont | 1:1.4.7-2 | — |
| Debian 7 | libxfont | 1:1.4.5-4 | DSA-2927-1 |
| Debian 6.0 | libxfont | 1:1.4.1-5 | DSA-2927-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | libxfont | 1:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.1 | USN-2211-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | libXfont +1 | 1.4.7-2.el7_0 | RHSA-2014:1870 |
| RHEL 6 | libXfont +1 | 1.4.5-4.el6_6 | RHSA-2014:1870 |
| RHEL 5 | libXfont +1 | 1.2.2-1.0.6.el5_11 | RHSA-2014:1893 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | libXfont +1 | 1.4.7-2.el7_0 | ELSA-2014-1870 |
Advisories 5
- RHSA-2014:1893 Red Hat Security Advisory: libXfont security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2014:1870 Red Hat Security Advisory: libXfont security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- USN-2211-1 libxfont vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DSA-2927-1 libxfont - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- ELSA-2014-1870 Important: libXfont security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Nov 18, 2014
References
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2014-0012.html
- openSUSE-SU-2014:0711 vendor-advisory
- USN-2211-1 vendor-advisory
- 59154 third-party-advisory
- 20141205 NEW: VMSA-2014-0012 - VMware vSphere product updates address security vulnerabilities mailing-list
- DSA-2927 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2014:1893 vendor-advisory
- 67382 vdb-entry
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/cpujul2014-1972956.html
- [xorg-announce] 20140513 [ANNOUNCE] X.Org Security Advisory: Multiple issues in libXfont mailing-list
- 20141205 NEW: VMSA-2014-0012 - VMware vSphere product updates address security vulnerabilities mailing-list
- MDVSA-2015:145 vendor-advisory
- http://advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2014-0278.html