Ghostscript: out-of-bound read in base/gdevdevn.c:1973 in devn_pcx_write_rle could result in dos
Priority LOW 25CWE-125Published · Updated
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
- Partial Red Hat: 4 fixed, 3 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-125 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
A buffer overflow flaw was found in base/gdevdevn.c:1973 in devn_pcx_write_rle() in ghostscript. This issue may allow a local attacker to cause a denial of service via outputting a crafted PDF file for a DEVN device with gs.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00435 38th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Red Hat: 2 advisoriesRed Hat: 4 fixed, 3 without a fix
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | — | 9.27-11.el8 | Patch available | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | — | 9.54.0-13.el9 | Patch available | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | — | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | — | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | — | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in 9.27-11.el8 Patch available CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in 9.54.0-13.el9 Patch available CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:artifex:ghostscript:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 10.02.0 | Vulnerable | Artifex |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:37:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 37 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 38 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- cpe:2.3:a:artifex:ghostscript:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 10.02.0 Vulnerable ·Artifex
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:37:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 37 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 38 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Remediation
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2023:7053 Released 2023-11-14 · Red Hat rating Moderateghostscript security and bug fix update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) ghostscript-doc-9.27-11.el8, ghostscript-tools-dvipdf-9.27-11.el8, ghostscript-tools-fonts-9.27-11.el8 +2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) ghostscript-9.27-11.el8, ghostscript-x11-9.27-11.el8, libgs-9.27-11.el8
- RHSA-2023:6544 Released 2023-11-07 · Red Hat rating Moderateghostscript security and bug fix update
- Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) ghostscript-9.54.0-13.el9, ghostscript-tools-fonts-9.54.0-13.el9, ghostscript-tools-printing-9.54.0-13.el9 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) ghostscript-9.54.0-13.el9, ghostscript-doc-9.54.0-13.el9, ghostscript-tools-dvipdf-9.54.0-13.el9 +4
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:7053 |
| Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:6544 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:7053 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:6544 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-38559
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-v34c-9rwg-qpf6
References
More Red Hat Enterprise Linux vulnerabilities
- TI-2019-08259 Underflow in PHP-FPM can lead to RCE KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2018-10530 Code injection in [UNKNOWN] RichFaces KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2014-05975 GNU Bash through 4.3 bash43-025 processes trailing strings after certain malformed… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2014-05157 GNU Bash through 4.3 processes trailing strings after function definitions in the values… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2025-23530 Sudo before 1.9.17p1 allows local users to obtain root access because /etc/nsswitch.conf… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.3
- TI-2021-17490 mod_proxy SSRF KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.0
Sources
- CVE-2023-38559 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-38559 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-v34c-9rwg-qpf6 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2023-38559 · 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