CVE-2017-13720
In the PatternMatch function in fontfile/fontdir.c in libXfont through 1.5.2 and 2.x before 2.0.2...
In the PatternMatch function in fontfile/fontdir.c in libXfont through 1.5.2 and 2.x before 2.0.2, an attacker with access to an X connection can cause a buffer over-read during pattern matching of fonts, leading to information disclosure or a crash (denial of service). This occurs because '\0' characters are incorrectly skipped in situations involving ? characters.
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
- High
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
7.1
In the PatternMatch function in fontfile/fontdir.c in libXfont through 1.5.2 and 2.x before 2.0.2, an attacker with access to an X connection can cause a buffer over-read during pattern matching of fonts, leading to information disclosure or a crash (denial of service). This occurs because '\0' characters are incorrectly skipped in situations involving ? characters.
- Record
CVE-2017-13720- CVSS 3.0
- 7.1 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 3.6 Low
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-125
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
In the PatternMatch function in fontfile/fontdir.c in libXfont through 1.5.2 and 2.x before 2.0.2, an attacker with access to an X connection can cause a buffer over-read during pattern matching of fonts, leading to information disclosure or a crash (denial of service). This occurs because '\0' characters are incorrectly skipped in situations involving ? characters.
- Record
CVE-2017-13720- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2017-5237 No score
In the PatternMatch function in fontfile/fontdir.c in libXfont through 1.5.2 and 2.x before 2.0.2, an attacker with access to an X connection can cause a buffer over-read during pattern matching of fonts, leading to information disclosure or a crash (denial of service). This occurs because '\0' characters are incorrectly skipped in situations involving ? characters.
- Record
EUVD-2017-5237- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-jrrp-87j9-7387
7.1
In the PatternMatch function in fontfile/fontdir.c in libXfont through 1.5.2 and 2.x before 2.0.2...
In the PatternMatch function in fontfile/fontdir.c in libXfont through 1.5.2 and 2.x before 2.0.2, an attacker with access to an X connection can cause a buffer over-read during pattern matching of fonts, leading to information disclosure or a crash (denial of service). This occurs because '\0' characters are incorrectly skipped in situations involving ? characters.
- Record
GHSA-jrrp-87j9-7387- CVSS 3.0
- 7.1 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-125
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
7.1
In the PatternMatch function in fontfile/fontdir.c in libXfont through 1.5.2 and 2.x before 2.0.2, an attacker with access to an X connection can cause a buffer over-read during pattern matching of fonts, leading to information disclosure or a crash (denial of service). This occurs because '\0' characters are incorrectly skipped in situations involving ? characters.
- Record
CVE-2017-13720- CVSS 3.0
- 7.1 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2017-13720
7.1
In the PatternMatch function in fontfile/fontdir.c in libXfont through 1.5.2 and 2.x before 2.0.2, an attacker with access to an X connection can cause a buffer over-read during pattern matching of fonts, leading to information disclosure or a crash (denial of service). This occurs because '\0' characters are incorrectly skipped in situations involving ? characters.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2017-13720- CVSS 3.0
- 7.1 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 6 moreShow less
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2017-13720
7.1
In the PatternMatch function in fontfile/fontdir.c in libXfont through 1.5.2 and 2.x before 2.0.2, an attacker with access to an X connection can cause a buffer over-read during pattern matching of fonts, leading to information disclosure or a crash (denial of service). This occurs because '\0' characters are incorrectly skipped in situations involving ? characters.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2017-13720- CVSS 3.0
- 7.1 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVMGASA-2017-0373 No score
Updated libxfont packages fix security vulnerabilities
In the PatternMatch function in fontfile/fontdir.c in libXfont through 1.5.2 and 2.x before 2.0.2, an attacker with access to an X connection can cause a buffer over-read during pattern matching of fonts, leading to information disclosure or a crash (denial of service). This occurs because '\0' characters are incorrectly skipped in situations involving ? characters. (CVE-2017-13720)
In the pcfGetProperties function in bitmap/pcfread.c in libXfont through 1.5.2 and 2.x before 2.0.2, a missing boundary check (for PCF files) could be used by local attackers authenticated to an Xserver for a buffer over-read, for information disclosure or a crash of the X server. (CVE-2017-13722)
- Record
MGASA-2017-0373- 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
OSVSUSE-SU-2018:0246-1 No score
Security update for xorg-x11-libs
This update for xorg-x11-libs fixes several issues.
These security issues were fixed:
- CVE-2017-16612: Heap overflows due to an integer overflow while parsing images and a signedness issue while parsing comments (bsc#1065386).
- CVE-2017-13720: Improper check for end of string in PatterMatch caused invalid reads (bsc#1054285)
- CVE-2017-13722: Malformed PCF file could have caused DoS or leak information (bsc#1049692)
- Prevent the X server from accessing arbitrary files as root. It is not possible to leak information, but special files can be touched allowing for causing side effects (bsc#1050459)
- Record
SUSE-SU-2018:0246-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2018:0334-1 No score
Security update for libXfont
This update for libXfont fixes several issues.
These security issues were fixed:
- CVE-2017-13720: Improper check for end of string in PatterMatch caused invalid reads (bsc#1054285)
- CVE-2017-13722: Malformed PCF file could have caused DoS or leak information (bsc#1049692)
- Prevent the X server from accessing arbitrary files as root. It is not possible to leak information, but special files can be touched allowing for causing side effects (bsc#1050459)
- Record
SUSE-SU-2018:0334-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUSN-3442-1 No score
libxfont, libxfont1, libxfont2 vulnerabilities
It was discovered that libXfont incorrectly handled certain patterns in PatternMatch. A local attacker could use this issue to cause libXfont to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly obtain sensitive information. (CVE-2017-13720)
It was discovered that libXfont incorrectly handled certain malformed PCF files. A local attacker could use this issue to cause libXfont to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly obtain sensitive information. (CVE-2017-13722)
- Record
USN-3442-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
libxfontDebian:12 |
before 1:2.0.1-4 | 1:2.0.1-4 |
libxfontDebian:13 |
before 1:2.0.1-4 | 1:2.0.1-4 |
libxfontDebian:14 |
before 1:2.0.1-4 | 1:2.0.1-4 |
libxfontDebian:7 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1:1.4.5-5+deb7u1, plus listed versions 1:1.4.5-21:1.4.5-31:1.4.5-41:1.4.5-5 |
1:1.4.5-5+deb7u1 |
libxfontDebian:8 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1:1.5.1-1+deb8u1, plus listed versions 1:1.5.1-1 |
1:1.5.1-1+deb8u1 |
libxfontDebian:9 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1:2.0.1-3+deb9u1, plus listed versions 1:2.0.1-3 |
1:2.0.1-3+deb9u1 |
libxfontMageia:5 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.5.1-1.1.mga5 | 1.5.1-1.1.mga5 |
libxfontMageia:6 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.5.2-1.1.mga6 | 1.5.2-1.1.mga6 |
libxfont2Mageia:6 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 2.0.1-4.1.mga6 | 2.0.1-4.1.mga6 |
xorg-x11-libsSUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 11 SP4 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs |
before 7.4-8.26.50.5.3 | 7.4-8.26.50.5.3 |
Show 18 moreShow less
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
xorg-x11-libsSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs |
before 7.4-8.26.50.5.3 | 7.4-8.26.50.5.3 |
xorg-x11-libsSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 11 SP4 From an advisory covering 3 CVEs |
before 7.4-8.26.50.5.3 | 7.4-8.26.50.5.3 |
libXfontSUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP2 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.5.1-11.3.12 | 1.5.1-11.3.12 |
libXfontSUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP3 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.5.1-11.3.12 | 1.5.1-11.3.12 |
libXfontSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for Raspberry Pi 12 SP2 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.5.1-11.3.12 | 1.5.1-11.3.12 |
libXfontSUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP2 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.5.1-11.3.12 | 1.5.1-11.3.12 |
libXfontSUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP3 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.5.1-11.3.12 | 1.5.1-11.3.12 |
libXfontSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.5.1-11.3.12 | 1.5.1-11.3.12 |
libXfontSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP2 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.5.1-11.3.12 | 1.5.1-11.3.12 |
libXfontSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.5.1-11.3.12 | 1.5.1-11.3.12 |
libXfontSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1.5.1-11.3.12 | 1.5.1-11.3.12 |
libxfontUbuntu:14.04:LTS |
before 1:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.3, plus listed versions 1:1.4.6-11:1.4.6-1ubuntu11:1.4.7-11:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.11:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.2 |
1:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.3 |
libxfontUbuntu:16.04:LTS |
before 1:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.3, plus listed versions 1:1.5.1-11:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.11:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.2 |
1:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.3 |
libxfont2Ubuntu:16.04:LTS |
before 1:2.0.1-3~ubuntu16.04.2, plus listed versions 1:2.0.1-3~ubuntu16.04.1 |
1:2.0.1-3~ubuntu16.04.2 |
libxfontUbuntu:14.04:LTS From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.3, plus listed versions 1:1.4.6-11:1.4.6-1ubuntu11:1.4.7-11:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.11:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.2 |
1:1.4.7-1ubuntu0.3 |
libxfontUbuntu:16.04:LTS From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.3, plus listed versions 1:1.5.1-11:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.11:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.2 |
1:1.5.1-1ubuntu0.16.04.3 |
libxfont2Ubuntu:16.04:LTS From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 1:2.0.1-3~ubuntu16.04.2, plus listed versions 1:2.0.1-3~ubuntu16.04.1 |
1:2.0.1-3~ubuntu16.04.2 |
libXfontopenSUSE:Tumbleweed From an advisory covering 3 CVEs |
before 1.5.4-2.18 | 1.5.4-2.18 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected, facts | ||
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2017-13720 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.1) in X.org Libxfont, published October 5, 2017. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.44%, the 38th percentile. Fixed in libxfont 1:2.0.1-4.
References
debian.org/security/2017/dsa-3995
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1500690
bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1054285
x.org/releases/individual/lib/libXfont2-2.0.2.tar.bz2
security.gentoo.org/glsa/201711-08
cgit.freedesktop.org/xorg/lib/libXfont/commit?id=d1e670a4a8704b8708e493ab6155589bcd570608
Show 20 moreShow less
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-13720
github.com/advisories/GHSA-jrrp-87j9-7387
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2017-13720
advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2017-0373.html
bugs.mageia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=21834
usn.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-3442-1
suse.com/support/update/announcement/2018/suse-su-20180246-1
bugzilla.suse.com/1049692
bugzilla.suse.com/1050459
bugzilla.suse.com/1054285
bugzilla.suse.com/1065386
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-13720
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-13722
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-16612
suse.com/support/update/announcement/2018/suse-su-20180334-1
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-13720
ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-3442-1
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-13720
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-13722
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2017-16611