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CVE Record

CVE-2026-50258: Xorg-x11-server: xorg-x11-server-xwayland: xorg-x11-server: stack buffer overflow in xkb key types due to unchecked shift levels

A stack-based buffer overflow flaw was found in the X.Org X server and Xwayland. The X server has multiple stack buffers sized XkbMaxShiftLevel * XkbNumKbdGroups but CheckKeyTypes() does not verify or clamp non-canonical key types to XkbMaxShiftLevel. A client can change key types to excessive shift levels and trigger stack overflows. This is caused by an incomplete fix of CVE-2025-26597. This may be used to crash the server, or for privilege escalation if the X server runs as root.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2026-50258 is a local memory corruption flaw in X.Org X server and Xwayland. A logged-in client may crash the display server and, where the X server runs as root, potentially escalate privileges. This is high urgency for Linux workstation, remote desktop, and server environments that include the listed Red Hat Xorg, Xwayland, or TigerVNC packages.

Executive priority

Schedule expedited patching for affected Linux desktop, VDI, and remote GUI systems. This is not internet-remote based on the provided CVSS vector, but it can turn ordinary local access into full system compromise in root-running X server scenarios.

Technical view

CheckKeyTypes() fails to clamp non-canonical XKB key types to XkbMaxShiftLevel. Excessive shift levels can overflow stack buffers sized by XkbMaxShiftLevel * XkbNumKbdGroups. The issue is CWE-121, CVSS 7.8, local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction. Sources identify it as an incomplete fix for CVE-2025-26597.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on affected Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 ELS, 8, 9, 10, and listed lifecycle variants running xorg-x11-server, xorg-x11-server-Xwayland, or tigervnc packages. Systems with local graphical sessions, Xwayland, or VNC-style desktop access deserve priority review.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. Exploitation requires local client access, but impact can include server crash or privilege escalation if the X server runs as root. Treat untrusted local users, shared desktops, and remote GUI environments as higher-risk contexts.

Researcher notes

Focus validation on XKB key type handling and package lineage, especially the incomplete CVE-2025-26597 fix. The bundle names Red Hat affected builds but does not provide exploit proof, fixed version details, or cross-distribution status. Avoid extrapolating beyond the listed products.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply the relevant Red Hat RHSA update for each affected release and package.
  • Prioritize systems running Xorg, Xwayland, or TigerVNC with multiple local users.
  • Check vendor guidance for lifecycle-specific fixes before assuming package parity.
  • Reduce unnecessary graphical or VNC services until updates are applied.
  • Avoid relying on unlisted workarounds as complete remediation.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory RHEL release, lifecycle channel, and installed Xorg, Xwayland, and TigerVNC packages.
  • Compare installed package versions against the affected package list in the source bundle.
  • Confirm the applicable Red Hat erratum has been applied for each host.
  • Identify whether Xorg or Xwayland runs with elevated privileges on affected systems.
  • Review remote desktop hosts separately; TigerVNC is listed as affected for RHEL 8 and 9.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
12

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-121: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
description · low confidence lookup

Privilege behavior lookup

The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2026-50258 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

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.

2CVSS vectors
7Timeline events
2ADP providers
27Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: total

CVSS vector scores

2 official scores

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9redhat
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9redhat-SADP

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-50258Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Reported to Red Hat.

  2. Source timelineredhat

    Reported to Red Hat.

  3. ADP timelineredhat-SADP

    Made public.

  4. Source timelineredhat

    Made public.

  5. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  6. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  7. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
redhat-SADPxorg-x11-server: xorg-x11-server-Xwayland: xorg-x11-server: stack buffer overflow in XKB key types due to unchecked shift levels
other:Red Hat severity ratingcvssV3_1
  • 2026-05-15T03:14:46.000Z: Reported to Red Hat.
  • 2026-06-02T00:00:00.000Z: Made public.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 10xorg-x11-server-Xwayland, 0:24.1.9-4.el10_2.2affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 10.0 Extended Update Supportxorg-x11-server-Xwayland, 0:24.1.5-6.el10_0.1affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Extended Lifecycle Supportxorg-x11-server, 0:1.20.4-35.el7_9affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8xorg-x11-server-Xwayland, 0:21.1.3-20.el8_10.2affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8xorg-x11-server, 0:1.20.11-28.el8_10.2affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8tigervnc, 0:1.15.0-10.el8_10affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Advanced Mission Critical Update Supportxorg-x11-server, 0:1.20.10-5.el8_4affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4 Extended Update Support Long-Life Add-Onxorg-x11-server, 0:1.20.10-5.el8_4affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Advanced Mission Critical Update Supportxorg-x11-server, 0:1.20.11-8.el8_6affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Advanced Mission Critical Update Supportxorg-x11-server-Xwayland, 0:21.1.3-2.el8_6.7affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Extended Update Support Long-Life Add-Onxorg-x11-server, 0:1.20.11-8.el8_6affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Extended Update Support Long-Life Add-Onxorg-x11-server-Xwayland, 0:21.1.3-2.el8_6.7affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Telecommunications Update Servicexorg-x11-server, 0:1.20.11-19.el8_8affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Telecommunications Update Servicexorg-x11-server-Xwayland, 0:21.1.3-13.el8_8.1affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Update Services for SAP Solutionsxorg-x11-server, 0:1.20.11-19.el8_8affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Update Services for SAP Solutionsxorg-x11-server-Xwayland, 0:21.1.3-13.el8_8.1affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9xorg-x11-server-Xwayland, 0:24.1.9-4.el9_8.2affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9xorg-x11-server, 0:1.20.11-34.el9_8.2affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9tigervnc, 0:1.15.0-7.el9_8.2affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Update Services for SAP Solutionsxorg-x11-server, 0:1.20.11-21.el9_2affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Update Services for SAP Solutionsxorg-x11-server-Xwayland, 0:21.1.3-10.el9_2.1affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.4 Update Services for SAP Solutionsxorg-x11-server, 0:1.20.11-29.el9_4affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.4 Update Services for SAP Solutionsxorg-x11-server-Xwayland, 0:22.1.9-8.el9_4.1affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.6 Extended Update Supportxorg-x11-server, 0:1.20.11-34.el9_6affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9.6 Extended Update Supportxorg-x11-server-Xwayland, 0:23.2.7-6.el9_6.1affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 6tigervncaffected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 6xorg-x11-serverunknown
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 7tigervncaffected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-121

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-121 · source CWE mapping

Stack-based Buffer Overflow

Stack-based Buffer Overflow represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

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