Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2015-9262 is a memory corruption flaw in libXcursor, a common X cursor handling library. A crafted cursor theme inheritance value can trigger a one-byte heap overflow, causing a crash and possibly code execution. The source bundle confirms fixes through upstream and Linux vendor advisories, but does not show active exploitation.
Executive priority
Handle through routine patch management unless vulnerable GUI systems are internet-exposed or process untrusted desktop assets. The issue can crash affected software and may allow code execution, but the provided evidence does not show active exploitation.
Technical view
The flaw is in _XcursorThemeInherits in library.c in libXcursor before 1.1.15. The CVE describes a one-byte heap overflow reachable by remote attackers, with denial of service and potential code execution impact. Red Hat, Ubuntu, Debian, and upstream freedesktop references document the fix path.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on Linux or Unix-like systems using libXcursor before 1.1.15, including desktops, VDI, and GUI-enabled servers. The provided affected-product data is incomplete, so confirm using distribution package inventories and vendor advisories.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not include exploit reports, proof of active exploitation, or CISA KEV listing. Treat exploitation as plausible where an attacker can cause vulnerable libXcursor code to process crafted cursor theme data, but the public evidence here does not establish real-world exploitation.
Researcher notes
Key gaps are affected product enumeration, CVSS data, and reachable attack scenarios. Use the upstream commit and distro advisories to confirm patch provenance. Avoid assuming exploitability beyond the CVE’s denial-of-service and potential code-execution wording.
Mitigation direction
- Update libXcursor to 1.1.15 or a vendor backported fixed package.
- Apply relevant Red Hat, Ubuntu, or Debian security updates.
- Prioritize desktops, VDI images, and GUI-enabled servers using older libXcursor packages.
- For other distributions, check vendor guidance for CVE-2015-9262 coverage.
Validation and detection
- Verify installed libXcursor packages are fixed by version or vendor advisory status.
- Confirm scanner findings map to vendor package names and backport metadata.
- Review package changelogs for CVE-2015-9262 or the upstream freedesktop fix commit.
- Check golden images and desktop pools, not only production servers.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
Execution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2015-9262 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- RHSA-2018:3059CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
- https://cgit.freedesktop.org/xorg/lib/libXcursor/commit/?id=897213f36baf6926daf6d192c709cf627aa5fd05CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- USN-3729-1CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_UBUNTU
- RHSA-2018:3505CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
- [debian-lts-announce] 20180818 [SECURITY] [DLA-1469-1] libxcursor security updateCVE reference · mailing-list, x_refsource_MLIST
- https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=90857CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
