xorg-x11-server: Double Free
CVE-2026-88812 is a high-severity double free vulnerability in xorg-x11-server from X.Org, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists version 21.1.25 as the first without the flaw, so updating xorg-x11-server to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.19% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update xorg-x11-server to 21.1.25 or a later version.
- Update xwayland to 24.1.14 or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| X.Org | xorg-x11-server | before 21.1.25 | 21.1.25 |
| X.Org | xwayland | before 24.1.14 | 24.1.14 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (suse.de).
Official description
A double free in XKB SetGeometryin X.Org X Server before 21.1.25 and X Wayland before 24.1.14 could be used by attached clients to cause a crash or potentially code in the x server context.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Double Free
The product calls free() twice on the same memory address.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Choose a language that provides automatic memory management.
- Ensure that each allocation is freed only once. After freeing a chunk, set the pointer to NULL to ensure the pointer cannot be freed again. In complicated error conditions, be sure that clean-up routines respect the state of allocation properly. If the language is object oriented, ensure that object destructors delete each chunk of memory only once.
- Use a static analysis tool to find double free instances.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Other vulnerabilities in xorg-x11-server
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.5 High severity
- 8.5 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
Recent Double Free vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.6 Critical severity
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