CVE-2016-10219 in Ghostscript
Summary
by MITRE
The intersect function in base/gxfill.c in Artifex Software, Inc. Ghostscript 9.20 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (divide-by-zero error and application crash) via a crafted file.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10219 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Ghostscript rendering engine developed by Artifex Software. This issue specifically affects Ghostscript version 9.20 and stems from improper input validation within the intersect function located in the base/gxfill.c source file. The vulnerability manifests when the software processes specially crafted graphical files that contain malformed intersection calculations, leading to a divide-by-zero error condition that ultimately crashes the application. This type of flaw falls under the category of CWE-369, which describes the condition where a division operation is performed with a zero denominator, a common vector for denial of service attacks in software systems. The intersect function is responsible for calculating geometric intersections in graphical rendering operations, making it a critical component in the graphics processing pipeline where such failures can have significant operational impacts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it provides remote attackers with a reliable method to crash Ghostscript applications without requiring any special privileges or authentication. Attackers can craft malicious PostScript or PDF files that, when processed by an affected Ghostscript instance, will trigger the divide-by-zero error and subsequent application crash. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because Ghostscript serves as a foundational component in numerous applications including web browsers, document viewers, and print servers that rely on its robust rendering capabilities. The flaw can be exploited in various contexts where Ghostscript is used for document processing, including email filtering systems, web applications, and enterprise document management platforms. This makes the attack surface quite broad and increases the potential for widespread disruption across multiple environments.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which describes the use of denial of service attacks against applications and systems. The attack chain typically involves the delivery of a malicious file through various vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites, followed by the automatic processing of these files through Ghostscript. The vulnerability demonstrates poor error handling practices and insufficient input validation, which are common weaknesses in software systems that can be exploited to cause system instability. Organizations using Ghostscript in their infrastructure should consider implementing additional file validation layers and sandboxing mechanisms to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. The flaw also highlights the importance of regular security updates and patch management processes, as this issue was resolved in subsequent versions of Ghostscript through proper input validation and error handling improvements. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of robust input validation in graphics processing libraries and the potential for seemingly minor code flaws to result in significant operational disruptions.