Ghostscript - Arbitrary Code Execution

ghostscript Updated 02 Oct 2025

Summary

24/10/2016
N/A
Yes i
Unrated
Not published

DLA-674-1: ghostscript - security update. Affects ghostscript versions < 9.05~dfsg-6.3+deb7u3. Fixed in 9.05~dfsg-6.3+deb7u3. How to fix ↓

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Background

Ghostscript is an open-source PostScript/PDF interpreter that is widely used for rendering and processing PostScript and PDF files. It provides functionality for converting these file formats to other formats, such as images or text. Ghostscript is vulnerable to multiple security issues that can result in the execution of arbitrary code or information disclosure when processing specially crafted PostScript files.

Vulnerability Detail

The vulnerabilities discovered in Ghostscript can be exploited by an attacker by providing a malicious PostScript file to the interpreter. These vulnerabilities allow for the execution of arbitrary code within the context of the Ghostscript process, potentially leading to remote code execution or unauthorized access to sensitive information. The specific vulnerabilities include CVE-2013-5653, CVE-2016-7976, CVE-2016-7977, CVE-2016-7978, CVE-2016-7979, and CVE-2016-8602.

How To Fix

Minimum fixed version

9.05~dfsg-6.3+deb7u3

This is the first release that contains the fix.

sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade ghostscript

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Workaround

There are no known workarounds for these vulnerabilities. It is essential to apply the recommended fix by upgrading the Ghostscript package to the latest version.

Conclusion

Ghostscript is vulnerable to multiple security issues that can lead to the execution of arbitrary code or information disclosure. To mitigate these vulnerabilities, it is crucial to upgrade the Ghostscript package to the recommended version. For further support and assistance in vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.

See every vulnerability recorded for ghostscript →

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FAQ

Ghostscript is an open-source PostScript/PDF interpreter used for rendering and processing PostScript and PDF files.

These vulnerabilities can allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or access sensitive information within the context of the Ghostscript process.

To fix these vulnerabilities, you should upgrade the Ghostscript package to version 9.05~dfsg-6.3+deb7u3 or later.

No, there are no known workarounds for these vulnerabilities. It is crucial to apply the recommended fix by upgrading the Ghostscript package.

You can find more information about Debian LTS security advisories, including how to apply updates and frequently asked questions, at https://wiki.debian.org/LTS.

Related vulnerabilities

Recent vulnerabilities recorded for ghostscript.

How To Fix

Minimum fixed version

9.05~dfsg-6.3+deb7u3

This is the first release that contains the fix.

sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade ghostscript

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