Description
The parse_charstrings function in type1/t1load.c in FreeType 2 before 2.7 does not ensure that a font contains a glyph name, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer over-read) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted 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 | freetype | 2.6.3-3.1 | — |
| Debian 13 | freetype | 2.6.3-3.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | freetype | 2.6.3-3.1 | — |
| Debian 8 | freetype | 2.5.2-3+deb8u2 | DSA-3839-1 |
| Debian 7 | freetype | 2.4.9-1.1+deb7u4 | DLA-848-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | freetype | 2.6.1-0.1ubuntu2.1 | USN-3237-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | freetype | 2.5.2-1ubuntu2.6 | USN-3237-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP3 | ft2demos +1 | 2.6.3-7.15.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0414-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | ft2demos +1 | 2.6.3-7.15.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0414-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | ft2demos +1 | 2.3.7-25.45.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0462-1 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | ft2demos +1 | 2.6.3-7.15.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0414-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | ft2demos +1 | 2.6.3-7.15.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0414-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | ft2demos +1 | 2.3.7-25.45.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0462-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.4 | freetype | 2.6.3-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.3 | freetype | 2.6.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.2 | freetype | 2.5.5-r1 | — |
Advisories 5
- USN-3237-1 freetype vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DLA-848-1 freetype - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-3839-1 freetype - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:0414-1 Security update for freetype2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:0462-1 Security update for freetype2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/freetype/freetype2.git/tree/ChangeLog?h=VER-2-7
- 1038090 vdb-entry
- GLSA-201706-14 vendor-advisory
- https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2017-04-01
- 97405 vdb-entry
- https://bugs.chromium.org/p/oss-fuzz/issues/detail?id=36
- DSA-3839 vendor-advisory
- 1038201 vdb-entry
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2020.html