CVE-2026-101258 in Red Hat
Summary
by MITRE • 10/07/2026
A flaw was found in Ghostscript. When Ghostscript renders a crafted PostScript or EPS document, it can bypass the -dSAFER sandbox and execute arbitrary shell commands in the context of the Ghostscript process. The issue chains memory corruption in document parsing with disabling of internal path access controls at runtime. An attacker can deliver the document directly or through formats that delegate rendering to Ghostscript (for example EPS import or print conversion workflows). Successful exploitation can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data accessible to the process running Ghostscript.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2026
The vulnerability identified in Ghostscript represents a critical security failure involving the bypassing of the -dSAFER sandbox mechanism through a sophisticated chain of memory corruption and runtime state manipulation. The core technical flaw lies in how Ghostscript processes PostScript and Encapsulated Post Script documents, specifically within its parsing engine where improper handling of crafted inputs leads to heap-based buffer overflow or similar memory corruption issues. This initial exploitation allows an attacker to gain arbitrary code execution capabilities within the context of the Ghostscript process itself. However, the severity is significantly amplified by a secondary flaw involving internal path access controls. During the rendering process, specific conditions can be triggered that effectively disable these critical security boundaries at runtime. By chaining memory corruption with this disabling of sandbox restrictions, an attacker can escape the isolated environment intended to prevent malicious actions and execute arbitrary shell commands on the underlying operating system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for remote code execution via file-based attacks. Attackers do not need direct network access if they can trick a user into opening or processing a malicious document, but it also affects automated workflows such as EPS import in graphic design software or print conversion pipelines where Ghostscript operates silently in the background. The ability to bypass -dSAFER means that any data accessible to the process running Ghostscript becomes compromised. This includes sensitive documents being processed, temporary files created during rendering, and potentially system-level configurations if the service has elevated privileges. Consequently, confidentiality is breached as attackers can read restricted files, integrity is undermined through unauthorized modification of output or intermediate data, and availability suffers if the exploitation leads to denial-of-service conditions or further malware deployment that disrupts normal operations.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125 Out-of-bounds Read and CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command, commonly known as OS Injection. The bypassing of the sandbox environment relates closely to CWE-250 Execution with Unnecessary Privileges and CWE-693 Protection Mechanism Failure. In terms of adversary tactics, this exploitation path maps directly to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically leveraging system commands for post-exploitation activities after initial access is gained through the malicious document delivery vector classified under T1204 User Execution or potentially T1189 Drive-by Compromise if delivered via web-based rendering services. The chaining of memory corruption with logic flaws to disable security controls exemplifies a complex attack chain that requires precise exploitation but offers high reward for threat actors seeking persistent access or lateral movement within an organization's infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should immediately apply vendor-provided patches to update Ghostscript to the latest secure version, ensuring that all systems processing PostScript or EPS files are protected against this specific bypass technique. In environments where updating is not instantly feasible, deploying input validation filters at network boundaries can help detect malformed documents before they reach the rendering engine. Additionally, enforcing strict least-privilege principles for services using Ghostscript reduces the blast radius of a successful exploitation; running these processes under restricted user accounts with minimal file system permissions limits what an attacker can access even if the sandbox is bypassed. Regular auditing of print and document processing workflows to identify dependencies on vulnerable libraries ensures that no legacy or unpatched instances remain in production environments, thereby reducing the attack surface for this class of memory corruption and logic flaw vulnerabilities.