Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in GhostScript v9.50
Summary
CVE-2020-16296: A buffer overflow vulnerability in GetNumWrongData() in contrib/lips4/gdevlips.c of Artifex Software GhostScript from v9.18 to v9.50 allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service via a crafted PDF file. Affects ghostscript versions < 9.51-r0. Fixed in 9.51-r0. How to fix ↓
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Background
GhostScript is an open-source interpreter for the PostScript language and the PDF file format. It is widely used for rendering and manipulating PDF files. The vulnerability affects version 9.50 of GhostScript. GhostScript is vulnerable to a buffer overflow in the GetNumWrongData() function, which can be exploited by a remote attacker through a crafted PDF file. This vulnerability can lead to a denial of service.
Vulnerability Detail
The buffer overflow vulnerability in GhostScript v9.50 occurs in the GetNumWrongData() function in the contrib/lips4/gdevlips.c file. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by providing a specially crafted PDF file. When the vulnerable function processes the file, it fails to properly validate the input, leading to a buffer overflow. This can result in a denial of service condition, potentially crashing the GhostScript process. The vulnerability has a CVSSv3 score of 5.5, indicating a moderate severity.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
9.51-r0
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apk add --upgrade ghostscriptTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is recommended to update to the fixed version of GhostScript as soon as possible.
Conclusion
The buffer overflow vulnerability in GhostScript v9.50 can be exploited by a remote attacker to cause a denial of service. It is recommended to update to version 9.51 or later to fix this vulnerability. If you need further assistance with vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.
See every vulnerability recorded for ghostscript →
FAQ
GhostScript is an open-source interpreter for the PostScript language and the PDF file format. It is commonly used for rendering and manipulating PDF files.
The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service by exploiting a buffer overflow in GhostScript. This can result in the crashing of the GhostScript process.
To fix this vulnerability, update GhostScript to version 9.51 or later.
There is no known workaround for this vulnerability. It is recommended to update to the fixed version of GhostScript.
The CVSSv3 score of this vulnerability is 5.5, indicating a moderate severity.
References
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