Application hang via zero-width XPM parsing
Published Feb 6, 2023 · Updated Mar 25, 2025
Infinite-loop input validation in X.Org libXpm before 3.5.15 allows remote attackers to hang linked applications via crafted XPM files. ParsePixels accepts a zero width with an enormous height, then iterates over the height while repeatedly calling getc() and ungetc() on the tiny input. Any application that parses attacker-supplied XPM data through the affected library can become stuck, interrupting that application's service without reported data disclosure or modification.
Summary
What happened
Infinite-loop input validation in X.Org libXpm before 3.5.15 allows remote attackers to hang linked applications via crafted XPM files. ParsePixels accepts a zero width with an enormous height, then iterates over the height while repeatedly calling getc() and ungetc() on the tiny input. Any application that parses attacker-supplied XPM data through the affected library can become stuck, interrupting that application's service without reported data disclosure or modification.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-44617
- Published
- Feb 6, 2023
- Updated
- Mar 25, 2025
- Vendor
- X.Org
- Product
- libXpm
- Classifications
- CWE-20, CWE-835
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 6, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Mar 25, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=3.5.15
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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