# CVE-2011-4029: Race condition in n/a

> Local attackers can exploit a race condition in X.Org X Server to change file permissions, read arbitrary files, or cause denial of service.

- **Severity:** Low 1.9 (`AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 3 Jul 2012
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2011-4029, GHSA-mq85-mwhp-wv55

## What is CVE-2011-4029?

CVE-2011-4029 is a low-severity vulnerability in X.org X Server, published on 3 Jul 2012. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The LockServer function in os/utils.c in X.Org xserver before 1.11.2 allows local users to change the permissions of arbitrary files to 444, read those files, and possibly cause a denial of service (removed execution permission) via a symlink attack on a temporary lock file.

Weakness: CWE-362 (Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2011-4029?

It affects 1 product.


Products: X.org X Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2011-4029?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2011-4029 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2011-4029 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- X.Org xorg 1.4 < 1.11.2 - File Permission Change (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in X.org X Server

- [CVE-2026-56000](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-56000/): xorg-x11-server / xwayland GLX contextTags Use-After-Free in CommonMakeCurrent() (critical 9.0)
- [CVE-2017-10971](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-10971/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2026-55999](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-55999/): xorg-server / xwayland glamor font atlas Heap Buffer Overflow (high 8.5)
- [CVE-2022-2319](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-2319/): Memory corruption in xorg-x11-server (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2022-2320](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-2320/): Memory corruption in xorg-x11-server (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2011-4029 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2011-4029 is a low-severity vulnerability in X.org X Server, published on 3 Jul 2012. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2011-4029 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: X.org X Server. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4029/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4029/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2011-4029
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-4029
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2011-4029

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4029/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.