CVE-2024-21885

CVE-2024-21885 is a high-severity vulnerability with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-122.

Key facts

Description

A flaw was found in X.Org server. In the XISendDeviceHierarchyEvent function, it is possible to exceed the allocated array length when certain new device IDs are added to the xXIHierarchyInfo struct. This can trigger a heap buffer overflow condition, which may lead to an application crash or remote code execution in SSH X11 forwarding environments.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2024-21885?
A flaw was found in X.Org server. In the XISendDeviceHierarchyEvent function, it is possible to exceed the allocated array length when certain new device IDs are added to the xXIHierarchyInfo struct. This can trigger a heap buffer overflow condition, which may lead to an application crash or remote code execution in SSH X11 forwarding environments.
How severe is CVE-2024-21885?
CVE-2024-21885 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2024-21885 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (70th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
How do I fix CVE-2024-21885?
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.
Does CVE-2024-21885 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2024-21885 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2024-19496.
When was CVE-2024-21885 published?
CVE-2024-21885 was published on 2024-02-28 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Other CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) vulnerabilities

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