CVE-2012-5668
CWE-119Published: January 24, 2013· Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Official Description
FreeType before 2.4.11 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and crash) via vectors related to BDF fonts and the improper handling of an "allocation error" in the bdf_free_font function.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2012-5668 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.
Exploitation requires some privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.
From a weakness classification perspective (CWE-119): Buffer overflow vulnerabilities can lead to arbitrary code execution or denial of service by corrupting adjacent memory.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
Official Patches & Advisories
All References (24)
Quick Facts
Related CVEs (CWE-119)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2012-5668 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts