CVE-2011-2187: xscreensaver before 5.14 crashes during activation and leaves the screen unlocked when in Blank Only Mode and

Q: How do I fix CVE-2011-2187?

xscreensaver: upgrade to 5.14; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2011-2187 being exploited?

CVE-2011-2187 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2011-2187 affect?

CVE-2011-2187 affects xscreensaver, debian linux. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). xscreensaver before 5.14 crashes during activation and leaves the screen unlocked when in Blank Only Mode and when DPMS is disabled, which allows local attackers to access resources without authentication.

Q: How urgent is CVE-2011-2187?

Priority 48/100. High severity; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

This month

HIGH 7.8WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2011-2187 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) affecting xscreensaver, debian linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

xscreensaver before 5.14 crashes during activation and leaves the screen unlocked when in Blank Only Mode and when DPMS is disabled, which allows local attackers to access resources without authentication.

Why this priority

High severity
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.8 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.5% (top 58%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-306
Published	2019-11-27
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: debian · xscreensaver project

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2019-11-27 18:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 23:30 UTCUpdated Record last modified

xscreensaver project xscreensaver UPGRADE

Affected: < 5.14

Fixed in: 5.14

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy xscreensaver || rpm -q xscreensaver || xscreensaver --version

2. UPGRADE to 5.14 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade xscreensaver

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade xscreensaver

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 8.0 · 9.0 · 10.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2011-2187?

xscreensaver: upgrade to 5.14; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2011-2187 being exploited?

CVE-2011-2187 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2011-2187 affect?

CVE-2011-2187 affects xscreensaver, debian linux. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). xscreensaver before 5.14 crashes during activation and leaves the screen unlocked when in Blank Only Mode and when DPMS is disabled, which allows local attackers to access resources without authentication.

How urgent is CVE-2011-2187?

Priority 48/100. High severity; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Debian vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2021-34557 MEDIUM 4.6 DOWNGRADE MITIGATE XScreenSaver 5.45 can be bypassed if the machine has more than ten disconnectable video outputs
CVE-2021-31523 HIGH 7.8 MITIGATE The Debian xscreensaver 5.42+dfsg1-1 package for XScreenSaver has cap_net_raw enabled for the /usr/libexec/xsc
CVE-2015-8025 LOW 2.1 MITIGATE DOWNGRADE driver/subprocs.c in XScreenSaver before 5.34 does not properly perform an internal consistency check, which a

References

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