Description
In libXfont before 1.5.4 and libXfont2 before 2.0.3, a local attacker can open (but not read) files on the system as root, triggering tape rewinds, watchdogs, or similar mechanisms that can be triggered by opening files.
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 | 1:2.0.3-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | libxfont | 1:2.0.3-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | libxfont | 1:2.0.3-1 | — |
| Debian 9 | libxfont | 1:2.0.1-3+deb9u2 | DLA-2901-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | libxfont | 1:2.0.6-2ubuntu0.2 | USN-8560-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | libxfont | 1:2.0.6-1+deb13u1build0.24.04.2 | USN-8560-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | libxfont | 1:2.0.5-1ubuntu0.2 | USN-8560-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | libxfont | 1:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.4 | USN-3500-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | libxfont2 | 1:2.0.1-3~ubuntu16.04.3 | USN-3500-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | libxfont | 1:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.4 | USN-3500-1 |
Show 4 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | libxfont | 1:2.0.3-1ubuntu0.20.04.1~esm2 | USN-8560-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | libxfont | 1:2.0.3-1ubuntu0.1~esm2 | USN-8560-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | libxfont | 1:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.4+esm2 | USN-8560-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | libxfont | 1:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.4+esm2 | USN-8560-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | libXfont | 1.5.4-2.18 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10921-1 |
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | libXfont2 | 2.0.5-1.2 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10922-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | libxfont2 | 2.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | libxfont2 | 2.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | libxfont2 | 2.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | libxfont2 | 2.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | libxfont2 | 2.0.3-r0 | — |
Show 13 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | libxfont2 | 2.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | libxfont2 | 2.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | libxfont | 1.5.4-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | libxfont2 | 2.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | libxfont | 1.5.4-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | libxfont2 | 2.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | libxfont | 1.5.4-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | libxfont2 | 2.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | libxfont | 1.5.4-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | libxfont2 | 2.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | libxfont | 1.5.4-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | libxfont2 | 2.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.12 | libxfont | 1.5.4-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.12 | libxfont2 | 2.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.11 | libxfont | 1.5.4-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.11 | libxfont2 | 2.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.10 | libxfont | 1.5.4-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.10 | libxfont2 | 2.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.9 | libxfont | 1.5.4-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.9 | libxfont2 | 2.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.8 | libxfont | 1.5.4-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.8 | libxfont2 | 2.0.3-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.7 | libxfont | 1.5.4-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.7 | libxfont2 | 2.0.3-r0 | — |
Advisories 5
- USN-8560-1 libxfont vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jul 21, 2026
- USN-3500-1 libxfont, libxfont1, libxfont2 vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DLA-2901-1 libxfont - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10921-1 libXfont-devel-1.5.4-2.18 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10922-1 libXfont2-2-2.0.5-1.2 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- [oss-security] 20171128 CVE-2017-16611 libXfont Open files with O_NOFOLLOW mailing-list
- https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1050459
- USN-3500-1 vendor-advisory
- [freedesktop-xorg-announce] 20171128 libXfont2 2.0.3 mailing-list
- GLSA-201801-10 vendor-advisory
- [freedesktop-xorg-announce] 20171128 libXfont 1.5.4 mailing-list
- http://security.cucumberlinux.com/security/details.php?id=155
- [debian-lts-announce] 20220125 [SECURITY] [DLA 2901-1] libxfont security update mailing-list