libXfont: User can trigger arbitrary file read by X server causing a DoS
Published Dec 1, 2017
5.5
MEDIUMCVSS 3.1
EPSS 0.42%
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.
Affected products
No data.
Configuration 1
- 8.0
- 9.0
Configuration 2
- 14.04
- 16.04
- 17.04
- 17.10
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
libXfont
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
libXfont
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
libXfont
Will not fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
libXfont2
Will not fix
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | libXfont | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | libXfont | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | libXfont | Will not fix | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | libXfont2 | Will not fix | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
No remediation recorded yet.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:L
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
Score over time
2021–2026- EPSS v1
- EPSS v5
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
Percentile over time
- EPSS v1
- EPSS v5
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
Table of values (8 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 0.42% (0.00420) | 33.96th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 20, 2026 | 0.42% (0.00420) | 35.93th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jul 20, 2024 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 5.06th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.04% (0.00042) | 5.63th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 1.10% (0.01104) | 54.09th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 1.10% (0.01104) | 28.85th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2022 | 1.00% (0.00999) | 27.22th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Apr 14, 2021 | 0.89% (0.00888) | 0.00th | v1 |
References (12)
- http://security.cucumberlinux.com/security/details.php?id=155 x_refsource_MISCThird Party Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/11/28/7 mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListPatchThird Party Advisory
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-3500-1 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTUThird Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-16611 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1519082 Issue Tracking
- https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1050459 x_refsource_CONFIRMIssue TrackingTool SignatureVDB Entry
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/01/msg00028.html mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTIssue TrackingMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- https://marc.info/?l=freedesktop-xorg-announce&m=151188044218304&w=2 mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://marc.info/?l=freedesktop-xorg-announce&m=151188049718337&w=2 mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-16611
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201801-10 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_GENTOOThird Party Advisory
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-16611
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.