Description
The _bdf_parse_glyphs function in bdf/bdflib.c in FreeType before 2.5.4 does not properly handle a missing ENDCHAR record, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted BDF font.
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 | 2.5.2-3 | — |
| Debian 13 | freetype | 2.5.2-3 | — |
| Debian 12 | freetype | 2.5.2-3 | — |
| Debian 7 | freetype | 2.4.9-1.1+deb7u1 | DSA-3188-1 |
| Debian 6.0 | freetype | 2.4.2-2.1+squeeze5 | DLA-185-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | freetype | 2.5.2-1ubuntu2.4 | USN-2510-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | freetype +2 | 2.4.11-10.ael7b_1.1 | RHSA-2015:0696 |
| RHEL 6 | freetype +2 | 2.3.11-15.el6_6.1 | RHSA-2015:0696 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 | ft2demos +1 | 2.5.3-5.1 | SUSE-SU-2015:0455-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 | ft2demos +1 | 2.5.3-5.1 | SUSE-SU-2015:0455-1 |
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 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | freetype +2 | 2.4.11-10.el7_1.1 | ELSA-2015-0696 |
Advisories 8
- RHSA-2015:0696 Red Hat Security Advisory: freetype security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 27, 2026
- USN-2510-1 freetype vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DLA-185-1 freetype - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-3188-1 freetype - security update 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
- SUSE-SU-2015:0455-1 Security update for freetype2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2015-0696 Important: freetype security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Mar 17, 2015
References
- DSA-3188 vendor-advisory
- http://code.google.com/p/google-security-research/issues/detail?id=188
- GLSA-201503-05 vendor-advisory
- 72986 vdb-entry
- USN-2739-1 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2015:0627 vendor-advisory
- http://advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2015-0083.html
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinapr2015-2511959.html
- RHSA-2015:0696 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2015-2216 vendor-advisory
- MDVSA-2015:055 vendor-advisory
- USN-2510-1 vendor-advisory
- http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/freetype/freetype2.git/commit/?id=af8346172a7b573715134f7a51e6c5c60fa7f2ab
- FEDORA-2015-2237 vendor-advisory