CVE-2016-7943

The XListFonts function in X.org libX11 before 1.6.4 might allow remote X servers to gain privileges via vectors involving length fields, which trigger…

published December 13, 2016

CVSS
—
EPSS
4%
Percentile
91.3
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ A little oversight leads to big trouble! The XListFonts function in X.org libX11 before 1.6.4 could let remote X servers gain unexpected privileges! Think of it as a restaurant where a chef can sneak into the supply room and grab ingredients without a proper check — a missing security measure can let unauthorized chefs whip up their own dishes! An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to perform out-of-bounds write operations, potentially compromising the entire system's security. This means they could gain unauthorized access and control over resources, leading to devastating consequences!

Put simply

Think of it as a restaurant where a chef can sneak into the supply room and grab ingredients without a proper check — a missing security measure can let unauthorized chefs whip up their own dishes! This vulnerability arises from how length fields are handled within the XListFonts function, allowing remote X servers to manipulate memory incorrectly, leading to privilege escalation. It's a sneaky gap in the code that allows bad actors to write data outside intended boundaries.

What to do

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to perform out-of-bounds write operations, potentially compromising the entire system's security. This means they could gain unauthorized access and control over resources, leading to devastating consequences! Update your X.org libX11 to version 1.6.4 or later to close this loophole. If you’re running an affected version, it’s crucial to patch now to prevent potential privilege escalation. Regularly audit your software components for updates to keep your environment secure! You've got this! With a swift update, you’ll be back to serving secure systems in no time! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.04459 · 91.3th percentile
Published
2016-12-13T20:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 13 DEC 20:00Z
    The XListFonts function in X.org libX11 before 1.6.4 might allow remote X servers to gain privileges via vectors involving length fields, which trigger…
    cvelistv5