Read the docs
TI-2019-11073 Aliases CVE-2019-14869GHSA-c87p-jj8p-c38g

Incorrect permission assignment in ghostscript

Priority MEDIUM 44CWE-648Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.

Summary

A flaw was found in all versions of ghostscript 9.x before 9.50, where the `.charkeys` procedure, where it did not properly secure its privileged calls, enabling scripts to bypass `-dSAFER` restrictions. An attacker could abuse this flaw by creating a specially crafted PostScript file that could escalate privileges within the Ghostscript and access files outside of restricted areas or execute commands.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.03094 87th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 3 advisories

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
Ghostscriptghostscriptall versions of ghostscript 9.x before 9.28—No fix listedCNA
  • ghostscript VendorGhostscript Affected all versions of ghostscript 9.x before 9.28 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 6

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:ghostscript:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*9.00 to before 9.50VulnerableArtifex
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:29:*:*:*:*:*:*:*29VulnerableFedoraproject
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:30:*:*:*:*:*:*:*30VulnerableFedoraproject
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:31:*:*:*:*:*:*:*31VulnerableFedoraproject
cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*15.0VulnerableopenSUSE
cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*15.1VulnerableopenSUSE
  • cpe:2.3:a:artifex:ghostscript:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.00 to before 9.50 Vulnerable ·Artifex
  • cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:29:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 29 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
  • cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:30:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 30 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
  • cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:31:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 31 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
  • cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 15.0 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
  • cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 15.1 Vulnerable ·openSUSE

Remediation

Red Hat 3 advisories

  • RHSA-2020:0222 Released 2020-01-23 · Red Hat rating Important
    ghostscript security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v. 8.0) ghostscript-9.25-2.el8_0.4, libgs-9.25-2.el8_0.4
  • RHSA-2019:3890 Released 2019-11-18 · Red Hat rating Important
    ghostscript security update
    • Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) ghostscript-doc-9.25-5.el8_1.1, ghostscript-tools-dvipdf-9.25-5.el8_1.1, ghostscript-tools-fonts-9.25-5.el8_1.1 +3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) ghostscript-9.25-5.el8_1.1, libgs-9.25-5.el8_1.1
  • RHSA-2019:3888 Released 2019-11-14 · Red Hat rating Important
    ghostscript security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) ghostscript-9.25-2.el7_7.3, ghostscript-cups-9.25-2.el7_7.3, libgs-9.25-2.el7_7.3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) ghostscript-doc-9.25-2.el7_7.3, ghostscript-gtk-9.25-2.el7_7.3, libgs-devel-9.25-2.el7_7.3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) ghostscript-9.25-2.el7_7.3, ghostscript-cups-9.25-2.el7_7.3, libgs-9.25-2.el7_7.3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) ghostscript-doc-9.25-2.el7_7.3, ghostscript-gtk-9.25-2.el7_7.3, libgs-devel-9.25-2.el7_7.3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) ghostscript-9.25-2.el7_7.3, ghostscript-9.25-2.el7_7.3.ppc, ghostscript-cups-9.25-2.el7_7.3 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) ghostscript-doc-9.25-2.el7_7.3, ghostscript-gtk-9.25-2.el7_7.3, libgs-devel-9.25-2.el7_7.3 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) ghostscript-9.25-2.el7_7.3, ghostscript-cups-9.25-2.el7_7.3, libgs-9.25-2.el7_7.3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) ghostscript-doc-9.25-2.el7_7.3, ghostscript-gtk-9.25-2.el7_7.3, libgs-devel-9.25-2.el7_7.3

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2019:3890
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2019:3890
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v. 8.0)Fixed RHSA-2020:0222
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:3888
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:3888
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:3888
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:3888
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:3888
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:3888
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:3888
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:3888
Not affected: 3 products
  • Red Hat 3scale API Management Platform 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2019-14869
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-c87p-jj8p-c38g
  3. 2026-10-18 EPSS moved to the 90th–95th percentile
  4. 2026-10-21 EPSS moved to the 50th–90th percentile

References

Patch 2

Advisory 8

Other 2

  • TI-2009-04050 Stack-based buffer overflow in the errprintf function in base/gsmisc.c in ghostscript… CVSS 2.0HIGH 9.3
  • TI-2009-00183 Heap-based buffer overflow in the big2_decode_symbol_dict function (jbig2_symbol_dict.c)… CVSS 2.0HIGH 9.3
  • TI-2009-00560 Multiple integer overflows in icc.c in the International Color Consortium (ICC) Format… CVSS 2.0HIGH 9.3
  • TI-2009-00754 Multiple integer overflows in icc.c in the International Color Consortium (ICC) Format… CVSS 2.0HIGH 9.3
  • TI-2009-00561 icc.c in the International Color Consortium (ICC) Format library (aka icclib), as used in… CVSS 2.0HIGH 9.3
  • TI-2008-00386 Stack-based buffer overflow in the zseticcspace function in zicc.c in Ghostscript 8.61… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 6.8
See all 11 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences