Description
A stack-based buffer overflow flaw was found in the X.Org X server and Xwayland. A mismatch between the X server and the libXfont2 library's maximum font name length can cause a stack buffer overflow during font alias resolution. The server allocates a 256 byte stack buffer but libXfont2's alias target name length is 1024 bytes. A font alias name between 257 and 1023 bytes causes the X server to copy that name into the undersized stack buffer without further checks. This may be used to crash the server, or for privilege escalation if the X server runs as root.
Problem types
Product status
Timeline
| 2026-05-15: | Reported to Red Hat. |
| 2026-06-02: | Made public. |
Credits
Upstream acknowledges Anonymous (Trend Micro Zero Day Initiative) as the original reporter.
References
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-50256
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2485380 (RHBZ#2485380)
gitlab.freedesktop.org/...f962dc935e58ef8b4b5fcb31be201a6e07
lists.x.org/archives/xorg-announce/2026-June/003702.html
redhat.atlassian.net/browse/PSIRTSUPT-16950