CVE-2017-15652 in Ghostscript
Summary
by MITRE
Artifex Ghostscript 9.22 is affected by: Obtain Information. The impact is: obtain sensitive information. The component is: affected source code file, affected function, affected executable, affected libga (imagemagick used that). The attack vector is: Someone must open a postscript file though ghostscript. Because of imagemagick also use libga, so it was affected as well.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2023
CVE-2017-15652 represents a sensitive information disclosure vulnerability within Artifex Ghostscript version 9.22 that stems from improper handling of PostScript file processing. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of information disclosure flaws, specifically categorized as CWE-200 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The flaw manifests when Ghostscript processes malicious PostScript files, allowing attackers to extract sensitive data from the system through the affected code paths. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates through the standard execution flow of Ghostscript, requiring only that a user open a specially crafted PostScript file, making it highly exploitable in real-world scenarios.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a flaw in how Ghostscript handles certain PostScript commands within the affected source code files, particularly in the libga library that Ghostscript uses for graphics processing. When processing malicious input, the system fails to properly sanitize or validate the data flow, potentially exposing memory contents, system information, or other sensitive data to unauthorized access. The vulnerability affects not only Ghostscript directly but also impacts ImageMagick due to its dependency on the libga library, creating a cascading effect across multiple software components that utilize the same underlying graphics processing functionality. This cross-component impact demonstrates the importance of understanding software dependencies and their collective security implications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially expose system internals, memory layout information, or other sensitive data that could aid in more sophisticated attacks. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gather intelligence about the target system, potentially identifying system configurations, available resources, or other data that could be used to plan further exploitation attempts. The attack vector requiring user interaction through file opening makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in social engineering scenarios where users might be tricked into opening malicious files. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for PostScript execution, where adversaries use scripting languages to execute malicious code.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15652 should focus on immediate patching of all affected systems, including both Ghostscript installations and ImageMagick implementations that rely on the vulnerable libga library. Organizations should implement strict file validation and filtering mechanisms for PostScript files, particularly in environments where users might encounter untrusted content. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from accumulating in the software stack. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software libraries and understanding the complete software supply chain dependencies to prevent cascading security issues across interconnected systems.