Ghostscript 9.20 libfile use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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8.4$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Ghostscript 9.20. It has been declared as critical. The affected element is an unknown function in the library libfile. The manipulation results in use after free. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2016-7978. The attack can be executed remotely. There is not any exploit available. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Ghostscript 9.20 (Document Processing Software). Affected is some unknown processing in the library libfile. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Use-after-free vulnerability in Ghostscript 9.20 might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors related to a reference leak in .setdevice.

The bug was discovered 10/05/2016. The weakness was released 05/23/2017 by Tavis Ormandy (oss-sec). The advisory is available at openwall.com. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2016-7978 since 09/09/2016. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 91 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $0-$5k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 96285 (CentOS 7 : ghostscript (CESA-2017:0013)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family CentOS Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 169241 (SUSE Enterprise Linux Security Update for ghostscript-library (SUSE-SU-2016:2492-1)).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published before and not just after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (96285) and SecurityFocus (BID 95336†). Entry connected to this vulnerability is available at VDB-101647. VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

Type

Name

Version

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 8.4

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 7.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 9.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Use after free
CWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 96285
Nessus Name: CentOS 7 : ghostscript (CESA-2017:0013)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 703691
OpenVAS Name: Debian Security Advisory DSA 3691-1 (ghostscript - security update)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

09/09/2016 🔍
10/05/2016 +26 days 🔍
10/05/2016 +0 days 🔍
01/04/2017 +91 days 🔍
01/05/2017 +1 days 🔍
05/23/2017 +138 days 🔍
05/23/2017 +0 days 🔍
05/23/2017 +0 days 🔍
12/07/2022 +2024 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: RHSA-2017:0013
Researcher: Tavis Ormandy
Status: Not defined
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2016-7978 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2016-7978
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-101646

OVAL: 🔍

SecurityFocus: 95336 - Ghostscript CVE-2016-7978 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
OSVDB: - CVE-2016-7978 - Artifex - Ghostscript - Use-After-Free Issue

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 05/23/2017 12:43
Updated: 12/07/2022 08:25
Changes: 05/23/2017 12:43 (74), 10/02/2020 09:22 (7), 12/07/2022 08:25 (4)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:832:103

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