CVE-2016-9601 in Ghostscript
Summary
by MITRE
ghostscript before version 0.14 is vulnerable to a heap based buffer overflow that was found in the ghostscript jbig2_decode_gray_scale_image function which is used to decode halftone segments in a JBIG2 image. A document (PostScript or PDF) with an embedded, specially crafted, jbig2 image could trigger a segmentation fault in ghostscript.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9601 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in the Ghostscript software library, specifically within the jbig2_decode_gray_scale_image function. This flaw exists in versions prior to 0.14 and demonstrates a classic memory corruption vulnerability that can lead to arbitrary code execution. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking when processing JBIG2 image data, which is a standard format for lossless and lossy compression of bitonal images commonly used in document processing and archival systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when Ghostscript processes PostScript or PDF documents containing embedded JBIG2 images. The jbig2_decode_gray_scale_image function fails to properly validate the size parameters of halftone segments within the JBIG2 image structure, allowing an attacker to craft malicious image data that exceeds allocated buffer boundaries. This buffer overflow condition manifests as a segmentation fault during document rendering, but more critically, it provides a potential pathway for remote code execution through controlled memory corruption. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of image processing and memory management, where improper handling of variable-length data structures leads to predictable memory layout corruption.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on Ghostscript for document processing, printing services, and PDF rendering operations. Attackers could exploit this flaw by embedding maliciously crafted JBIG2 images within seemingly benign PostScript or PDF documents, potentially compromising systems during routine document handling processes. The impact extends beyond simple system crashes to include potential privilege escalation and full system compromise, particularly in environments where Ghostscript is used as a backend service for document conversion or print queue processing. This vulnerability affects the broader document processing ecosystem since Ghostscript serves as a foundational component for numerous applications including web browsers, document management systems, and enterprise printing solutions.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2016-9601 requires immediate patching of all affected Ghostscript installations to version 0.14 or later, which includes proper bounds checking and input validation for JBIG2 image processing functions. Organizations should also implement defensive measures such as restricting document upload capabilities, deploying sandboxed environments for document processing, and monitoring for suspicious document handling patterns. From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, Heap-based Buffer Overflow, and represents a common attack vector categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.3 for execution through document processing applications. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can provide additional defense layers, while regular security audits of document processing pipelines should include vulnerability scanning for similar memory corruption flaws in related software libraries.