Privilege escalation via stale key-action allocation
Published Feb 25, 2025 · Updated Jun 29, 2026
Heap buffer overflow in X.Org Server and Xwayland allows local users to execute arbitrary code with the X server's privileges. XkbChangeTypesOfKey() shrinks the key-symbol table to zero groups without resizing the key-action array, so a later nonzero group change writes through a stale, incorrectly sized heap allocation. A low-privileged user must first connect an X client; successful exploitation can escalate privileges, while failure can crash the server.
Summary
What happened
Heap buffer overflow in X.Org Server and Xwayland allows local users to execute arbitrary code with the X server's privileges. XkbChangeTypesOfKey() shrinks the key-symbol table to zero groups without resizing the key-action array, so a later nonzero group change writes through a stale, incorrectly sized heap allocation. A low-privileged user must first connect an X client; successful exploitation can escalate privileges, while failure can crash the server.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-26597
- Published
- Feb 25, 2025
- Updated
- Jun 29, 2026
- Vendor
- 389 Directory Server
- Product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Update Services for SAP Solutions
- Classifications
- CWE-119, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 25, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jun 29, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Affected versions are unavailable in this record. Check the vendor advisory for version and patch details.
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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