The bdfReadCharacters function in bitmap/bdfread.c in X.Org libXfont before 1.4.9 and…
Priority MEDIUM 45Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Medium
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Complete · Complete · Complete
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 16 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
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.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.04886 92nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Red Hat: 1 advisoryRed Hat: 16 fixed, 1 without a fix
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 7
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 10.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 12.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 14.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 14.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:a:x:libxfont:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 1.4.8 | Vulnerable | X |
| cpe:2.3:a:x:libxfont:1.5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.5.0 | Vulnerable | X |
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 10.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 12.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 14.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 14.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:a:x:libxfont:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 1.4.8 Vulnerable ·X
- cpe:2.3:a:x:libxfont:1.5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.5.0 Vulnerable ·X
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2015:1708 Released 2015-09-03 · Red Hat rating ImportantlibXfont security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) libXfont-1.4.7-3.el7_1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) libXfont-devel-1.4.7-3.el7_1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) libXfont-1.4.7-3.el7_1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) libXfont-devel-1.4.7-3.el7_1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) libXfont-1.4.5-5.el6_7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) libXfont-1.4.5-5.el6_7, libXfont-devel-1.4.5-5.el6_7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) libXfont-1.4.5-5.el6_7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) libXfont-1.4.5-5.el6_7, libXfont-devel-1.4.5-5.el6_7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) libXfont-1.4.5-5.el6_7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) libXfont-1.4.7-3.ael7b_1, libXfont-1.4.7-3.el7_1, libXfont-1.4.7-3.el7_1.ppc
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) libXfont-1.4.5-5.el6_7, libXfont-1.4.5-5.el6_7.ppc, libXfont-devel-1.4.5-5.el6_7 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) libXfont-devel-1.4.7-3.ael7b_1, libXfont-devel-1.4.7-3.el7_1, libXfont-devel-1.4.7-3.el7_1.ppc
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) libXfont-1.4.5-5.el6_7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) libXfont-1.4.7-3.el7_1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6) libXfont-1.4.5-5.el6_7, libXfont-devel-1.4.5-5.el6_7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) libXfont-devel-1.4.7-3.el7_1
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1708 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1708 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1708 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1708 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1708 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1708 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1708 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1708 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1708 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1708 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1708 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1708 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1708 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1708 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1708 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2015:1708 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2015-1803
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-7vwv-c4f9-4xwx
References
Advisory 11
Sources
- CVE-2015-1803 · CVE Program
- CVE-2015-1803 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-7vwv-c4f9-4xwx · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2015-1803 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences