Use-of-uninitialized-value in ghostscript: s_exD_process
Summary
OSV-2020-1872: Use-of-uninitialized-value in s_exD_process. Affects ghostscript across 2 version ranges.
< 825d6807a72b68a2faf11fc37f89b1b75967d727
>= 668917a10e7eada030f7d2dddec9f579fddeed3d, < 9e85e7a9518aa19964f1f8d30d3175ef8c3b950f
Fixed in 9e85e7a9518aa19964f1f8d30d3175ef8c3b950f. 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 converting documents. The vulnerability in question affects the s_exD_process function within Ghostscript. This function is responsible for processing certain types of data, and the vulnerability arises from the use of uninitialized values during this process.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability is categorized as a 'Use-of-uninitialized-value' issue. It was reported through the OSS-Fuzz project, and more details can be found in the associated bug report (https://bugs.chromium.org/p/oss-fuzz/issues/detail?id=21643). The crash occurs in the s_exD_process function, specifically in the sreadbuf and sgets subroutines. The uninitialized values can lead to unexpected behavior and potential security risks. The severity of this vulnerability is considered medium.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
9e85e7a9518aa19964f1f8d30d3175ef8c3b950f
This is the first release that contains the fix.
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Workaround
As a workaround, if updating to a patched version is not immediately feasible, it is advisable to exercise caution when processing untrusted PostScript or PDF files using Ghostscript. Avoiding the use of potentially vulnerable features or limiting the exposure to untrusted input can help mitigate the risk.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the s_exD_process function in Ghostscript is vulnerable to a use-of-uninitialized-value issue. It is crucial to update to a patched version of Ghostscript to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability. If you require further assistance or support in addressing this vulnerability, please reach out to DevNack.com.
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FAQ
Ghostscript is an open-source interpreter for the PostScript language and the PDF file format. It is commonly used for rendering and converting documents.
The use of uninitialized values in the s_exD_process function can lead to unexpected behavior and potential security risks. Attackers may be able to exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial-of-service condition.
This vulnerability was discovered through the OSS-Fuzz project, which performs continuous fuzz testing on various open-source projects to uncover potential issues.
The severity of this vulnerability is considered medium.
To fix this vulnerability, it is recommended to update the affected version of Ghostscript to a patched version that includes the fix for this issue.
References
Related vulnerabilities
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