# CVE-2014-1509: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via a crafted PDF extension due to a buffer overflow in the Cairo library used by Firefox.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 19 Mar 2014
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-53pg-5g3f-5g57

## What is CVE-2014-1509?

CVE-2014-1509 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 19 Mar 2014. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Buffer overflow in the _cairo_truetype_index_to_ucs4 function in cairo, as used in Mozilla Firefox before 28.0, Firefox ESR 24.x before 24.4, Thunderbird before 24.4, and SeaMonkey before 2.25, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted extension that renders fonts in a PDF document.

Weakness: CWE-120 (Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2014-1509?

It affects 15 products.


Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Seamonkey, Mozilla Thunderbird, Opensuse Opensuse, Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop, Redhat Enterprise Linux Eus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Eus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Tus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation, Suse Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop, Suse Suse Linux Enterprise Server, Suse Suse Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit.

## How do I fix CVE-2014-1509?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2014-1509 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2014-1509 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux

- [CVE-2020-11651](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11651/): SaltStack Salt Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-7247](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7247/): OpenSMTPD Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-16928](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16928/): Exim Out-of-bounds Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-6789](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6789/): Exim Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-2590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2590/): Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2014-1509 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2014-1509 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 19 Mar 2014. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2014-1509 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux. 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-2014-1509/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-1509/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2014-1509
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-1509
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2014-1509

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-1509/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.