CVE-2024-21885: Xorg-x11-server: heap buffer overflow in xisenddevicehierarchyevent

Severity: high (CVSS 7.8 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 1.4% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2024-02-28 · updated 2026-06-17
Weakness: CWE-122

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.

Affected products

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Extended Lifecycle Support - EXTENSION: all versions — fixed in 0:1.1.0-25.el6_10.13
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7: all versions — fixed in 0:1.20.4-27.el7_9, 0:1.8.0-31.el7_9
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8: all versions — fixed in 0:1.13.1-2.el8_9.7, 0:1.20.11-22.el8, 0:21.1.3-15.el8
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.2 Advanced Update Support: all versions — fixed in 0:1.9.0-15.el8_2.9
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.2 Telecommunications Update Service: all versions — fixed in 0:1.9.0-15.el8_2.9
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.2 Update Services for SAP Solutions: all versions — fixed in 0:1.9.0-15.el8_2.9
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Advanced Mission Critical Update Support: all versions — fixed in 0:1.11.0-8.el8_4.8
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Telecommunications Update Service: all versions — fixed in 0:1.11.0-8.el8_4.8
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Update Services for SAP Solutions: all versions — fixed in 0:1.11.0-8.el8_4.8
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Extended Update Support: all versions — fixed in 0:1.12.0-6.el8_6.9
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Extended Update Support: all versions — fixed in 0:1.12.0-15.el8_8.7
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9: all versions — fixed in 0:1.13.1-3.el9_3.6, 0:1.20.11-24.el9, 0:22.1.9-5.el9
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.0 Extended Update Support: all versions — fixed in 0:1.11.0-22.el9_0.8
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Extended Update Support: all versions — fixed in 0:1.12.0-14.el9_2.5

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Extended Lifecycle Support - EXTENSION 0:1.1.0-25.el6_10.13; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 0:1.20.4-27.el7_9, 0:1.8.0-31.el7_9; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 0:1.13.1-2.el8_9.7, 0:1.20.11-22.el8, 0:21.1.3-15.el8; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.2 Advanced Update Support 0:1.9.0-15.el8_2.9; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.2 Telecommunications Update Service 0:1.9.0-15.el8_2.9; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.2 Update Services for SAP Solutions 0:1.9.0-15.el8_2.9; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Advanced Mission Critical Update Support 0:1.11.0-8.el8_4.8; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Telecommunications Update Service 0:1.11.0-8.el8_4.8; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Update Services for SAP Solutions 0:1.11.0-8.el8_4.8; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Extended Update Support 0:1.12.0-6.el8_6.9; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Extended Update Support 0:1.12.0-15.el8_8.7; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 0:1.13.1-3.el9_3.6, 0:1.20.11-24.el9, 0:22.1.9-5.el9. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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