CVE-2009-4270 in ghostscript
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the errprintf function in base/gsmisc.c in ghostscript 8.64 through 8.70 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted PDF file, as originally reported for debug logging code in gdevcups.c in the CUPS output driver.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4270 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow affecting the Ghostscript document processing library version 8.64 through 8.70. This flaw exists within the errprintf function located in the base/gsmisc.c file, which serves as a fundamental error reporting mechanism within the software. The vulnerability specifically manifests when processing malformed PDF files that contain crafted payloads designed to exploit the buffer overflow condition in the debug logging code of the CUPS output driver. The issue was originally reported in the gdevcups.c file, which demonstrates how vulnerabilities in one component can propagate through interconnected systems. The stack-based nature of this buffer overflow means that the vulnerability occurs when the program attempts to write data beyond the allocated stack buffer space, potentially corrupting adjacent memory locations including return addresses and function parameters.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables remote attackers to trigger a denial of service condition that results in application crashes, effectively rendering the Ghostscript processing engine unavailable to legitimate users. However, the more concerning aspect of this vulnerability is its potential for arbitrary code execution, which could allow attackers to gain unauthorized control over systems processing PDF documents through Ghostscript. The attack vector requires a malicious PDF file to be processed by a vulnerable Ghostscript instance, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users can upload or receive PDF documents from untrusted sources. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple crashes, as the buffer overflow could potentially be leveraged to overwrite critical memory structures, allowing for code injection attacks. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in stack memory regions where the buffer size is insufficient to handle the data being written to it.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-4270 is significant across multiple deployment scenarios including web applications, email servers, and document processing systems that utilize Ghostscript for PDF rendering and conversion. Systems processing untrusted PDF content become particularly vulnerable to exploitation, as any user interaction with malicious documents could trigger the buffer overflow condition. The vulnerability affects not only direct Ghostscript installations but also applications that depend on Ghostscript for document handling, such as web browsers with PDF plugins, document management systems, and content management platforms. Organizations using vulnerable versions of Ghostscript in production environments face potential risks including service disruption, unauthorized access to systems, and possible data compromise. The attack surface expands when considering that many applications rely on Ghostscript for rendering PDFs, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where document processing is common. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution and T1499 Endpoint Denial of Service, highlighting both the execution and denial of service aspects of the flaw.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4270 primarily focus on immediate patching and version updates to Ghostscript 8.71 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow condition. Organizations should implement strict input validation and sanitization for all PDF processing workflows, particularly in environments where untrusted content is processed. Additional protective measures include deploying web application firewalls to filter potentially malicious PDF files, implementing sandboxing techniques for PDF processing, and establishing network segmentation to limit the impact of successful exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual processing patterns or crashes in PDF handling systems, while regular security assessments should verify that all components utilizing Ghostscript have been updated to secure versions. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software libraries and implementing robust software supply chain security practices to prevent similar issues from arising in the future.