CVE-2012-4875 in Ghostscript
Summary
by MITRE
** DISPUTED ** Heap-based buffer overflow in gdevwpr2.c in Ghostscript 9.04, when processing the OutputFile device parameter, allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long file name in a PostScript document. NOTE: as of 20120314, the developer was not able to reproduce the issue and disputed it.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4875 represents a heap-based buffer overflow condition that exists within the Ghostscript 9.04 software implementation, specifically within the gdevwpr2.c source file. This flaw manifests during the processing of the OutputFile device parameter, creating a potential pathway for malicious exploitation. The vulnerability is classified as user-assisted remote code execution, meaning that an attacker must entice a victim to process a specially crafted PostScript document containing an excessively long file name to trigger the overflow condition. The nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the category of memory corruption flaws that can lead to arbitrary code execution when properly exploited.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves improper bounds checking during the handling of file name parameters within the Windows printer output device implementation. When Ghostscript processes a PostScript document that contains an excessively long file name in the OutputFile parameter, the application fails to validate the length of the input string before copying it into a fixed-size heap buffer. This classic buffer overflow scenario occurs because the software does not enforce adequate input validation, allowing an attacker to overflow the allocated buffer space and potentially overwrite adjacent memory locations. The heap-based nature of the vulnerability indicates that the affected buffer is dynamically allocated, making the exploitation more complex but still potentially devastating.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a critical security weakness that could enable attackers to gain full control over systems running vulnerable versions of Ghostscript. When exploited successfully, the buffer overflow could allow an attacker to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running the Ghostscript application, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The user-assisted nature of the attack means that social engineering would be required to get a victim to open a malicious PostScript document, but once executed, the consequences could be severe for any system processing untrusted PostScript content. This vulnerability would be particularly concerning in environments where users frequently process documents from untrusted sources, such as email attachments or web downloads.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability was disputed by the developer who was unable to reproduce the issue as of March 14, 2012, indicating potential challenges in confirming the exploitability of the reported flaw. However, the existence of such a vulnerability in a widely used document processing library like Ghostscript warrants careful consideration and monitoring. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and could potentially map to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for remote code execution through document processing. Organizations should ensure they are running patched versions of Ghostscript and implement proper input validation measures when processing PostScript documents. The recommended mitigations include updating to a patched version of Ghostscript, implementing strict input validation for file name parameters, and employing sandboxing techniques when processing untrusted documents to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts.