NULL pointer dereference in GhostScript
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-476.
Summary
A NULL pointer dereference vulnerability was found in Ghostscript, which occurs when it tries to render a large number of bits in memory. When allocating a buffer device, it relies on an init_device_procs defined for the device that uses it as a prototype that depends upon the number of bits per pixel. For bpp > 64, mem_x_device is used and does not have an init_device_procs defined. This flaw allows an attacker to parse a large number of bits (more than 64 bits per pixel), which triggers a NULL pointer dereference flaw, causing an application to crash.
Why it matters now
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 | Affects in Ghostscript v9.55.0 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- GhostScript Vendor— Affected Affects in Ghostscript v9.55.0 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 3
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:artifex:ghostscript:9.55.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.55.0 | Vulnerable | Artifex |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:35:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 35 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:36:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 36 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
- cpe:2.3:a:artifex:ghostscript:9.55.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.55.0 Vulnerable ·Artifex
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:35:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 35 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:36:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 36 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. 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-2022-2085
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-8932-gr4r-9hpv
References
Advisory 2
Sources
- CVE-2022-2085 · CVE Program
- CVE-2022-2085 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-8932-gr4r-9hpv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2022-2085 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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