CVE-2015-1803

CVE-2015-1803 is a high-severity vulnerability in X Libxfont with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 8.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

• Severity: High (CVSS 2.0 base score 8.5)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 5% (91st percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Affected product: X Libxfont
• Published: 2015-03-20
• Last modified: 2026-06-17

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.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2015-1803?

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.

How severe is CVE-2015-1803?

CVE-2015-1803 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 8.5, rated high severity.

Is CVE-2015-1803 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 5% (91st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2015-1803?

CVE-2015-1803 primarily affects X Libxfont. In total, 7 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2015-1803?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2015-1803 published?

CVE-2015-1803 was published on 2015-03-20 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

• http://advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2015-0113.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-March/152497.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-March/152838.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2015-03/msg00032.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2015-04/msg00002.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2015-04/msg00005.html
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-1708.html
• http://www.debian.org/security/2015/dsa-3194
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2015:145
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinapr2015-2511959.html
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/cpujul2015-2367936.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/73280
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1031935
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2536-1
• http://www.x.org/wiki/Development/Security/Advisory-2015-03-17/
• https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201507-21

Affected products (7)

• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:x:libxfont:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:x:libxfont:1.5.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in X Libxfont

• CVE-2007-5199 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): A single byte overflow in catalogue.c in X.Org libXfont 1.3.1 allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact.
• CVE-2013-6462 — Critical (CVSS 9.3): Stack-based buffer overflow in the bdfReadCharacters function in bitmap/bdfread.c in X.Org libXfont 1.1 through 1.4.6…
• CVE-2011-2895 — Critical (CVSS 9.3): The LZW decompressor in (1) the BufCompressedFill function in fontfile/decompress.c in X.Org libXfont before 1.4.4 and…
• CVE-2015-1804 — High (CVSS 8.5): 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…
• CVE-2015-1802 — High (CVSS 8.5): The bdfReadProperties function in bitmap/bdfread.c in X.Org libXfont before 1.4.9 and 1.5.x before 1.5.1 allows remote…
• CVE-2014-0211 — High (CVSS 7.5): Multiple integer overflows in the (1) fs_get_reply, (2) fs_alloc_glyphs, and (3) fs_read_extent_info functions in X.Org…

All CVEs affecting X Libxfont →