Improper input validation in ghostscript
Priority HIGH 84CWE-20Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-78.
Summary
A trivial sandbox (enabled with the `-dSAFER` option) escape flaw was found in the ghostscript interpreter by injecting a specially crafted pipe command. This flaw allows a specially crafted document to execute arbitrary commands on the system in the context of the ghostscript interpreter. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to confidentiality, integrity, as well as system availability.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.83913 99th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | ghostscript | ghostpdl 9.55.0 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- ghostscript Vendor— Affected ghostpdl 9.55.0 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:artifex:ghostscript:9.50:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.50 | Vulnerable | Artifex |
| cpe:2.3:a:artifex:ghostscript:9.52:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.52 | Vulnerable | Artifex |
| cpe:2.3:a:artifex:ghostscript:9.53.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.53.3 | Vulnerable | Artifex |
| cpe:2.3:a:artifex:ghostscript:9.54.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.54.0 | Vulnerable | Artifex |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:34:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 34 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
- cpe:2.3:a:artifex:ghostscript:9.50:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.50 Vulnerable ·Artifex
- cpe:2.3:a:artifex:ghostscript:9.52:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.52 Vulnerable ·Artifex
- cpe:2.3:a:artifex:ghostscript:9.53.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.53.3 Vulnerable ·Artifex
- cpe:2.3:a:artifex:ghostscript:9.54.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.54.0 Vulnerable ·Artifex
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:34:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 34 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-3781
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-gf7q-r6ff-xwg6
References
Sources
- CVE-2021-3781 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-3781 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-gf7q-r6ff-xwg6 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-3781 · 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