cbcvebase.
CVE-2019-14813
published 2019-09-06

CVE-2019-14813: A flaw was found in ghostscript, versions 9.x before 9.50, in the setsystemparams procedure where it did not properly secure its privileged calls, enabling…

PriorityP266critical9.8CVSS 3.1
AVNACLPRNUINSUCHIHAH
EPSS
11.40%
95.5th percentile
A flaw was found in ghostscript, versions 9.x before 9.50, in the setsystemparams procedure where it did not properly secure its privileged calls, enabling scripts to bypass `-dSAFER` restrictions. A specially crafted PostScript file could disable security protection and then have access to the file system, or execute arbitrary commands.

Affected

27 ranges· showing 25
VendorProductVersion rangeFixed in
artifexghostscript>= 0 < 9.28~~rc2~dfsg-19.28~~rc2~dfsg-1
artifexghostscript>= 0 < 9.28~~rc2~dfsg-19.28~~rc2~dfsg-1
artifexghostscript>= 0 < 9.28~~rc2~dfsg-19.28~~rc2~dfsg-1
artifexghostscript>= 0 < 9.28~~rc2~dfsg-19.28~~rc2~dfsg-1
artifexghostscript>= 0 < 9.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.119.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.11
artifexghostscript>= 0 < 9.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.119.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.11
artifexghostscript9.00 – 9.50
artifex_softwareghostscript
debiandebian_linux
debiandebian_linux
debiandebian_linux
debianghostscript< ghostscript 9.28~~rc2~dfsg-1 (bookworm)ghostscript 9.28~~rc2~dfsg-1 (bookworm)
fedoraprojectfedora
fedoraprojectfedora
fedoraprojectfedora
opensuseleap
opensuseleap
redhatenterprise_linux
redhatenterprise_linux
redhatenterprise_linux_desktop
redhatenterprise_linux_server
redhatenterprise_linux_server_aus
redhatenterprise_linux_server_eus
redhatenterprise_linux_server_tus
redhatenterprise_linux_workstation

Detection & IOCsextracted from sources · hover to see the quote

  • The vulnerability resides in the `setsystemparams` procedure in Ghostscript, which improperly exposes the `.forceput` operator, allowing bypass of `-dSAFER` restrictions. Monitor for PostScript files invoking `.forceput` via `setsystemparams` error-hooking paths.
  • The specific vulnerable code path is in `gs_lev2.ps` around line 227, where `//pssystemparams 3 1 roll .forceput` is reachable via ephemeral routines in `setsystemparams`. Inspect PostScript content for attempts to reach this code path.
  • A specially crafted PostScript file is the attack vector. Scan incoming PostScript or PDF files processed by Ghostscript 9.x before 9.50 for use of `setsystemparams` combined with `.forceput` operator exposure.
  • The upstream fix commit is at http://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git;a=commitdiff;h=885444fcbe10dc42787ecb76686c8ee4dd33bf33 — use this to identify patched vs. unpatched Ghostscript binaries.
  • ·The `-dSAFER` flag in Ghostscript versions 9.x before 9.50 does NOT reliably sandbox PostScript execution due to this flaw. Do not rely on `-dSAFER` as a security boundary on unpatched versions.
  • ·This vulnerability affects Ghostscript versions 9.x before 9.50. Installations running any 9.x release prior to 9.50 are vulnerable regardless of `-dSAFER` usage.

CVSS provenance

nvdv3.19.8CRITICALCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvdv3.07.3HIGHCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
nvdv2.07.5HIGHAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
osv9.8CRITICAL
vendor_debian9.8CRITICAL
vendor_redhat7.8HIGH
vendor_ubuntu7.8HIGH
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