# CVE-2019-15785: Memory corruption in n/a

> A buffer overflow in FontForge allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service via crafted preferences.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Aug 2019
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-qp2p-2wx4-5vff

## What is CVE-2019-15785?

CVE-2019-15785 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 29 Aug 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

FontForge 20190813 through 20190820 has a buffer overflow in PrefsUI_LoadPrefs in prefs.c.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-15785?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Fontforge Fontforge.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-15785?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-15785 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-15785 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-15785 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2025-15269](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-15269/): FontForge SFD File Parsing Use-After-Free Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2025-15270](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-15270/): FontForge SFD File Parsing Improper Validation of Array Index Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2025-15271](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-15271/): FontForge SFD File Parsing Improper Validation of Array Index Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2025-15272](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-15272/): FontForge SFD File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2025-15273](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-15273/): FontForge PFB File Parsing Stack-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-15785 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-15785 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 29 Aug 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-15785 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2019-15785/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-15785/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-15785
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-15785
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-15785

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-15785/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.