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CVE-2017-16611

In libXfont before 1.5.4 and libXfont2 before 2.0.3, a local attacker can open (but not read)...

5.5 MediumFix available

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.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
Low
User interaction
None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

0.42%Down 0.5 points since Apr 14, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

NVD Score used 5.5

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.

Record
CVE-2017-16611
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CVSS 2.0
4.9 MediumAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C
Weakness
CWE-59
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE List No score

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.

Record
CVE-2017-16611
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2017-7802 No score

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.

Record
EUVD-2017-7802
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-vjcj-64vh-89f7 5.5

In libXfont before 1.5.4 and libXfont2 before 2.0.3, a local attacker can open (but not read)...

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.

Record
GHSA-vjcj-64vh-89f7
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness
CWE-59
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVALPINE-CVE-2017-16611 5.5

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.

Record
ALPINE-CVE-2017-16611
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVBELL-CVE-2017-16611 5.5

CVE-2017-16611 does not affect BellSoft software

Record
BELL-CVE-2017-16611
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 8 moreShow less
OSV 5.5

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.

Record
CVE-2017-16611
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2017-16611 5.5

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.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2017-16611
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2017-16611 5.5

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.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2017-16611
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CVSS 3.0
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVMGASA-2017-0442 No score

Updated libxfont/libxfont2 packages fix security vulnerability

Fixes open files with O_NOFOLLOW. (CVE-2017-16611)

Record
MGASA-2017-0442
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:10921-1 No score

libXfont-devel-1.5.4-2.18 on GA media

These are all security issues fixed in the libXfont-devel-1.5.4-2.18 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:10921-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:10922-1 No score

libXfont2-2-2.0.5-1.2 on GA media

These are all security issues fixed in the libXfont2-2-2.0.5-1.2 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:10922-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-3500-1 No score

libxfont, libxfont1, libxfont2 vulnerability

It was discovered that libXfont incorrectly followed symlinks when opening font files. A local unprivileged user could use this issue to cause the X server to access arbitrary files, including special device files.

Record
USN-3500-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-8560-1 No score

libxfont vulnerabilities

It was discovered that libXfont incorrectly handled scaling bitmap fonts, leading to a heap buffer overflow. An attacker able to access the X server could use this issue to cause libXfont to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2026-56001)

It was discovered that libXfont did not properly check glyph bounds when reading PCF fonts, leading to a heap buffer overflow. An authenticated X client could use this issue to cause libXfont to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2026-56002)

It was discovered that libXfont did not properly check the size of the property buffer when parsing PCF fonts, leading to a heap buffer overflow. An authenticated X client could use this issue to cause libXfont to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2026-56003)

Record
USN-8560-1
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
libxfont
Alpine:v3.10
 1.0.0 up to 1.5.4-r0
1.5.4-r0
libxfont
Alpine:v3.11
 1.0.0 up to 1.5.4-r0
1.5.4-r0
libxfont
Alpine:v3.12
 1.0.0 up to 1.5.4-r0
1.5.4-r0
libxfont
Alpine:v3.13
 1.0.0 up to 1.5.4-r0
1.5.4-r0
libxfont
Alpine:v3.14
 1.0.0 up to 1.5.4-r0
1.5.4-r0
libxfont
Alpine:v3.15
 1.0.0 up to 1.5.4-r0
1.5.4-r0
libxfont
Alpine:v3.16
 1.0.0 up to 1.5.4-r0
1.5.4-r0
libxfont
Alpine:v3.17
 1.0.0 up to 1.5.4-r0
1.5.4-r0
libxfont
Alpine:v3.7
 1.0.0 up to 1.5.4-r0
1.5.4-r0
libxfont
Alpine:v3.8
 1.0.0 up to 1.5.4-r0
1.5.4-r0
Show 26 moreShow less
Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
libxfont
Alpine:v3.9
 1.0.0 up to 1.5.4-r0
1.5.4-r0
libxfont2
Alpine:v3.10
 before 2.0.3-r0
2.0.3-r0
libxfont2
Alpine:v3.11
 before 2.0.3-r0
2.0.3-r0
libxfont2
Alpine:v3.12
 before 2.0.3-r0
2.0.3-r0
libxfont2
Alpine:v3.7
 before 2.0.3-r0
2.0.3-r0
libxfont2
Alpine:v3.8
 before 2.0.3-r0
2.0.3-r0
libxfont2
Alpine:v3.9
 before 2.0.3-r0
2.0.3-r0
libxfont
Debian:12
 before 1:2.0.3-1
1:2.0.3-1
libxfont
Debian:13
 before 1:2.0.3-1
1:2.0.3-1
libxfont
Debian:14
 before 1:2.0.3-1
1:2.0.3-1
libxfont
Debian:9
 before 1:2.0.1-3+deb9u2, plus listed versions
1:2.0.1-31:2.0.1-3+deb9u1
1:2.0.1-3+deb9u2
libxfont
Mageia:5
 before 1.5.1-1.2.mga5
1.5.1-1.2.mga5
libxfont
Mageia:6
 before 1.5.2-1.2.mga6
1.5.2-1.2.mga6
libxfont2
Mageia:6
 before 2.0.1-4.2.mga6
2.0.1-4.2.mga6
libxfont
Ubuntu:14.04:LTS
 before 1:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.4, plus listed versions
1:1.4.6-11:1.4.6-1ubuntu11:1.4.7-11:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.11:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.21:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.3
1:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.4
libxfont
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS
 before 1:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.4, plus listed versions
1:1.5.1-11:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.11:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.21:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.3
1:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.4
libxfont2
Ubuntu:16.04:LTS
 before 1:2.0.1-3~ubuntu16.04.3, plus listed versions
1:2.0.1-3~ubuntu16.04.11:2.0.1-3~ubuntu16.04.2
1:2.0.1-3~ubuntu16.04.3
libxfont
Ubuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS
 before 1:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.4+esm2, plus listed versions
1:1.4.6-11:1.4.6-1ubuntu11:1.4.7-11:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.11:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.21:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.31:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.4
1:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.4+esm2
libxfont
Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS
 before 1:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.4+esm2, plus listed versions
1:1.5.1-11:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.11:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.21:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.31:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.4
1:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.4+esm2
libxfont
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS
 before 1:2.0.3-1ubuntu0.1~esm2, plus listed versions
1:2.0.1-3ubuntu11:2.0.1-41:2.0.1-4ubuntu11:2.0.3-1
1:2.0.3-1ubuntu0.1~esm2
libxfont
Ubuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS
 before 1:2.0.3-1ubuntu0.20.04.1~esm2, plus listed versions
1:2.0.3-1
1:2.0.3-1ubuntu0.20.04.1~esm2
libxfont
Ubuntu:22.04:LTS
 before 1:2.0.5-1ubuntu0.2, plus listed versions
1:2.0.4-1build31:2.0.5-11:2.0.5-1build1
1:2.0.5-1ubuntu0.2
libxfont
Ubuntu:24.04:LTS
 before 1:2.0.6-1+deb13u1build0.24.04.2, plus listed versions
1:2.0.6-11:2.0.6-1build1
1:2.0.6-1+deb13u1build0.24.04.2
libxfont
Ubuntu:26.04:LTS
 before 1:2.0.6-2ubuntu0.2, plus listed versions
1:2.0.6-1build11:2.0.6-1build21:2.0.6-2
1:2.0.6-2ubuntu0.2
libXfont
openSUSE:Tumbleweed
 before 1.5.4-2.18
1.5.4-2.18
libXfont2
openSUSE:Tumbleweed
 before 2.0.5-1.2
2.0.5-1.2

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
aliasesEUVD
affected, aliases, references
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2017-16611 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.5) in X Libxfont, published November 28, 2017. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.42%, the 36th percentile. Fixed in libxfont 1.5.4-r0.

References

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