1. Ubuntu Security Notices
  2. USN-2078-1

USN-2078-1: libXfont vulnerability

Publication date

7 January 2014

Overview

libXfont could be made to crash or run programs as an administrator if it opened a specially crafted font file.

Releases

Packages

  • libxfont - X11 font rasterisation library

Details

It was discovered that libXfont incorrectly handled certain malformed BDF
fonts. An attacker could use a specially crafted font file to cause
libXfont to crash, or possibly execute arbitrary code in order to gain
privileges. The default compiler options for affected releases should
reduce the vulnerability to a denial of service.

It was discovered that libXfont incorrectly handled certain malformed BDF
fonts. An attacker could use a specially crafted font file to cause
libXfont to crash, or possibly execute arbitrary code in order to gain
privileges. The default compiler options for affected releases should
reduce the vulnerability to a denial of service.

Update instructions

After a standard system update you need to reboot your computer to make all the necessary changes.

Learn more about how to get the fixes.

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu Release Package Version
13.10 saucy libxfont1 –  1:1.4.6-1ubuntu0.1
13.04 raring libxfont1 –  1:1.4.5-2ubuntu0.13.04.1
12.10 quantal libxfont1 –  1:1.4.5-2ubuntu0.12.10.1
12.04 precise libxfont1 –  1:1.4.4-1ubuntu0.1
10.04 lucid libxfont1 –  1:1.4.1-1ubuntu0.2

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References

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