CVE-2002-0363 in Ghostscript
Summary
by MITRE
ghostscript before 6.53 allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands by using .locksafe or .setsafe to reset the current pagedevice.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0363 represents a critical security flaw in the Ghostscript postscript interpreter software version 6.53 and earlier. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of security mechanisms within the interpreter's execution environment, specifically concerning the manipulation of pagedevice parameters through the .locksafe and .setsafe operators. The flaw allows malicious actors to bypass security restrictions that are typically enforced to prevent unauthorized command execution within the interpreter's sandboxed environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the design of Ghostscript's security model where .locksafe and .setsafe operators are intended to control access to system-level operations. When these operators are used to reset the current pagedevice, they inadvertently create a pathway for attackers to manipulate the interpreter's security context. This manipulation allows the execution of arbitrary system commands, effectively breaking the sandbox isolation that should protect the host system from malicious postscript code. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages legitimate interpreter functionality to achieve privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on Ghostscript for document processing, particularly in environments where untrusted postscript files are processed. Attackers can exploit this flaw to execute malicious commands with the privileges of the Ghostscript process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects any system running vulnerable versions of Ghostscript, including web servers, print servers, and document processing applications that utilize the interpreter. The impact extends beyond immediate system compromise to include potential data exfiltration, persistence mechanisms, and lateral movement within compromised networks.
Security mitigations for CVE-2002-0363 primarily focus on immediate software updates to version 6.53 or later, which contain patches addressing the unsafe manipulation of pagedevice parameters. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of systems running Ghostscript to untrusted input sources. Input validation and sanitization measures should be implemented at multiple layers to prevent malicious postscript content from reaching the interpreter. Additionally, system administrators should consider disabling unnecessary interpreter features and implementing strict file access controls for Ghostscript processes. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-254, which addresses security weaknesses in the implementation of access control mechanisms, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through postscript and scripting languages, highlighting the need for comprehensive defensive measures across multiple security domains.