In Artifex Ghostscript before 9.24, attackers able to supply crafted PostScript files to…
Priority LOW 37CWE-416Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 10 fixed, 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
In Artifex Ghostscript before 9.24, attackers able to supply crafted PostScript files to the builtin PDF14 converter could use a use-after-free in copydevice handling to crash the interpreter or possibly have unspecified other impact.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.01561 75th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Red Hat: 1 advisoryRed Hat: 10 fixed, 2 without a fix
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 16
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:artifex:ghostscript:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 9.24 | Vulnerable | Artifex |
| cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openshift_container_platform:3.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.11 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.5 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
- cpe:2.3:a:artifex:ghostscript:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 9.24 Vulnerable ·Artifex
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:openshift_container_platform:3.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.11 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.5 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
Show 6 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 14.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 16.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 18.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 14.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 16.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 18.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2019:0229 Released 2019-01-31 · Red Hat rating Importantghostscript security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) ghostscript-9.07-31.el7_6.9, ghostscript-cups-9.07-31.el7_6.9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) ghostscript-devel-9.07-31.el7_6.9, ghostscript-doc-9.07-31.el7_6.9, ghostscript-gtk-9.07-31.el7_6.9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) ghostscript-9.07-31.el7_6.9, ghostscript-cups-9.07-31.el7_6.9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) ghostscript-devel-9.07-31.el7_6.9, ghostscript-doc-9.07-31.el7_6.9, ghostscript-gtk-9.07-31.el7_6.9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) ghostscript-9.07-31.el7_6.9, ghostscript-9.07-31.el7_6.9.ppc, ghostscript-cups-9.07-31.el7_6.9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) ghostscript-devel-9.07-31.el7_6.9, ghostscript-devel-9.07-31.el7_6.9.ppc, ghostscript-doc-9.07-31.el7_6.9 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) ghostscript-9.07-31.el7_6.9, ghostscript-cups-9.07-31.el7_6.9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) ghostscript-devel-9.07-31.el7_6.9, ghostscript-doc-9.07-31.el7_6.9, ghostscript-gtk-9.07-31.el7_6.9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7) ghostscript-9.07-31.el7_6.9, ghostscript-cups-9.07-31.el7_6.9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server Optional (v. 7) ghostscript-devel-9.07-31.el7_6.9, ghostscript-doc-9.07-31.el7_6.9, ghostscript-gtk-9.07-31.el7_6.9
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0229 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0229 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0229 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0229 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0229 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0229 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0229 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0229 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0229 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2019:0229 |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-16540
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-685m-wc38-2pv8
References
Advisory 7
Sources
- CVE-2018-16540 · CVE Program
- CVE-2018-16540 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-685m-wc38-2pv8 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2018-16540 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences