CVE-2025-23022

What it actually does

Signed integer overflow in cf2_doFlex within the CFF interpreter can corrupt memory during font or glyph processing.

Why it matters to the business

Applications handling audio or media files on older Ubuntu systems may crash or allow arbitrary code execution, disrupting services and requiring urgent patching across many deployments.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker crafts a malicious input that reaches the cf2_doFlex function, triggering the signed integer overflow to corrupt memory structures and potentially execute attacker-controlled code.

How to fix it

Upgrade audiofile to the listed fixed versions: 0.3.6-2ubuntu0.14.04.3 for Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, 0.3.6-2ubuntu0.16.04.1+esm1 for Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, 0.3.6-4ubuntu0.1~esm1 for Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, and 0.3.6-5 for Ubuntu 20.04 LTS.

How to confirm the fix worked

Verify installed audiofile package versions match or exceed the fixed releases for each Ubuntu release and confirm the vulnerable cf2intrp.c code path is no longer present after upgrade.

Typical attack path

1. Identify a target application using the vulnerable audiofile library
2. Deliver crafted input that exercises the CFF parsing path
3. Trigger the integer overflow to achieve memory corruption
4. Leverage corruption for code execution or denial of service

How to detect it

Review system logs and package histories for evidence of exploitation attempts against audiofile before the listed fixed versions were applied; look for unexpected crashes in processes using the library.

What your security team should do

• Apply the exact fixed audiofile package versions immediately on all affected Ubuntu systems
• Prioritize systems exposed to untrusted media files
• Monitor for any post-patch stability issues in media-processing workloads