CVE-2024-21885: xorg-server Heap-based Buffer Overflow

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2024-21885 is a high (CVSS 7.8) Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability in xorg-server. EPSS estimates a 1.42% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 72.4% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 28-02-2024
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 06-11-2025
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

A flaw was found in X.Org server. In the XISendDeviceHierarchyEvent function, it is possible to exceed the allocated array length when certain new device IDs are added to the xXIHierarchyInfo struct. This can trigger a heap buffer overflow condition, which may lead to an application crash or remote code execution in SSH X11 forwarding environments.

• CWE-122Heap-based Buffer OverflowA heap overflow condition is a buffer overflow, where the buffer that can be overwritten is allocated in the heap portion of memory, generally meaning that the buffer was allocated using a routine such as malloc().