Description
The bdfReadCharacters function in bitmap/bdfread.c in X.Org libXfont before 1.4.9 and 1.5.x before 1.5.1 does not properly handle character bitmaps it cannot read, which allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted 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 | 1:1.5.1-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | libxfont | 1:1.5.1-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | libxfont | 1:1.5.1-1 | — |
| Debian 7 | libxfont | 1:1.4.5-5 | DSA-3194-1 |
| Debian 6.0 | libxfont | 1:1.4.1-5+deb6u1 | DLA-183-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | libxfont | 1:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.2 | USN-2536-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | libXfont +1 | 1.4.7-3.ael7b_1 | RHSA-2015:1708 |
| RHEL 6 | libXfont +1 | 1.4.5-5.el6_7 | RHSA-2015:1708 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 | libXfont | 1.4.7-4.1 | SUSE-SU-2015:0702-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 | libXfont | 1.4.7-4.1 | SUSE-SU-2015:0702-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | libXfont +1 | 1.4.7-3.el7_1 | ELSA-2015-1708 |
Advisories 6
- RHSA-2015:1708 Red Hat Security Advisory: libXfont security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 27, 2026
- USN-2536-1 libxfont vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DLA-183-1 libxfont - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-3194-1 libxfont - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2015:0702-1 Security update for libXfont SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2015-1708 Important: libXfont security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Sep 3, 2015
References
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/cpujul2015-2367936.html
- GLSA-201507-21 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2015:0674 vendor-advisory
- USN-2536-1 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2015-4230 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2015:1708 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2015:0614 vendor-advisory
- 1031935 vdb-entry
- FEDORA-2015-4199 vendor-advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinapr2015-2511959.html
- DSA-3194 vendor-advisory
- MDVSA-2015:145 vendor-advisory
- http://www.x.org/wiki/Development/Security/Advisory-2015-03-17/
- http://advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2015-0113.html
- SUSE-SU-2015:0702 vendor-advisory
- 73280 vdb-entry