In libXfont before 1.5.4 and libXfont2 before 2.0.3, a local attacker can open (but not read) files on the system as root, triggering tape rewinds, watchdogs, or similar mechanisms that can be triggered by opening files.
The MITRE CVE dictionary describes this issue as:
Find out more about CVE-2017-16611 from the MITRE CVE dictionary dictionary and NIST NVD.
NOTE: The following CVSS v3 metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.
| CVSS3 Base Score | 2.8 |
|---|---|
| CVSS3 Base Metrics | CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:L |
| Attack Vector | Local |
| Attack Complexity | High |
| Privileges Required | Low |
| User Interaction | None |
| Scope | Changed |
| Confidentiality | None |
| Integrity Impact | None |
| Availability Impact | Low |
| Platform | Package | State |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | libXfont | Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | libXfont2 | Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | libXfont | Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | libXfont | Will not fix |
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