An issue was discovered in Artifex Ghostscript before 9.25.
Priority LOW 38Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
An issue was discovered in Artifex Ghostscript before 9.25. Incorrect "restoration of privilege" checking when running out of stack during exception handling could be used by attackers able to supply crafted PostScript to execute code using the "pipe" instruction. This is due to an incomplete fix for CVE-2018-16509.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.02086 81st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 1 advisory
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 · 12
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:artifex:ghostscript:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 9.25 | Vulnerable | Artifex |
| 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_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_aus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.6 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
- cpe:2.3:a:artifex:ghostscript:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 9.25 Vulnerable ·Artifex
- 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
- 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_aus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2018:3834 Released 2018-12-17 · Red Hat rating Importantghostscript security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) ghostscript-9.07-31.el7_6.6, ghostscript-cups-9.07-31.el7_6.6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) ghostscript-devel-9.07-31.el7_6.6, ghostscript-doc-9.07-31.el7_6.6, ghostscript-gtk-9.07-31.el7_6.6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) ghostscript-9.07-31.el7_6.6, ghostscript-cups-9.07-31.el7_6.6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) ghostscript-devel-9.07-31.el7_6.6, ghostscript-doc-9.07-31.el7_6.6, ghostscript-gtk-9.07-31.el7_6.6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) ghostscript-9.07-31.el7_6.6, ghostscript-9.07-31.el7_6.6.ppc, ghostscript-cups-9.07-31.el7_6.6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) ghostscript-devel-9.07-31.el7_6.6, ghostscript-devel-9.07-31.el7_6.6.ppc, ghostscript-doc-9.07-31.el7_6.6 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) ghostscript-9.07-31.el7_6.6, ghostscript-cups-9.07-31.el7_6.6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) ghostscript-devel-9.07-31.el7_6.6, ghostscript-doc-9.07-31.el7_6.6, ghostscript-gtk-9.07-31.el7_6.6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7) ghostscript-9.07-31.el7_6.6, ghostscript-cups-9.07-31.el7_6.6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server Optional (v. 7) ghostscript-devel-9.07-31.el7_6.6, ghostscript-doc-9.07-31.el7_6.6, ghostscript-gtk-9.07-31.el7_6.6
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3834 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3834 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3834 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3834 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3834 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3834 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3834 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3834 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3834 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3834 |
Not affected: 3 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-16802
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-r3qx-w5mm-cr27
References
Advisory 7
Other 3
Sources
- CVE-2018-16802 · CVE Program
- CVE-2018-16802 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-r3qx-w5mm-cr27 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2018-16802 · 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