Ghostscript up to 9.27 File System PostScript File access control

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.7$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Ghostscript up to 9.27. This affects an unknown function of the component File System. Performing a manipulation as part of PostScript File results in access control. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2019-3839. Attacking locally is a requirement. No exploit is available. Applying a patch is the recommended action to fix this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Ghostscript up to 9.27 (Document Processing Software). This affects some unknown functionality of the component File System. The manipulation as part of a PostScript File leads to a access control vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-264. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

It was found that in ghostscript some privileged operators remained accessible from various places after the CVE-2019-6116 fix. A specially crafted PostScript file could use this flaw in order to, for example, have access to the file system outside of the constrains imposed by -dSAFER. Ghostscript versions before 9.28 are vulnerable.

The bug was discovered 05/07/2019. The weakness was published 05/16/2019 by Tavis Ormandy with Google Project Zero as confirmed git commit (GIT Repository). The advisory is shared at git.ghostscript.com. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2019-3839 since 01/03/2019. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available. MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1068 for this issue.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 9 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $0-$5k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 240001 (TencentOS Server 3: ghostscript (TSSA-2022:0123)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 237195 (Red Hat Update for ghostscript (RHSA-2019:0971)).

Upgrading to version 9.28 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.ghostscript.com. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be patching the affected component.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (240001) and SecurityFocus (BID 106700†). Similar entry is available at VDB-132007. If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

Type

Name

Version

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.7

VulDB Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Temp Score: 5.1
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 7.3
CNA Vector (Red Hat, Inc.): 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Access control
CWE: CWE-264
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 240001
Nessus Name: TencentOS Server 3: ghostscript (TSSA-2022:0123)

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Patch
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Ghostscript 9.28
Patch: 4ec9ca74bed49f2a82acb4bf430eae0d8b3b75c9

Timelineinfo

01/03/2019 🔍
01/23/2019 +20 days 🔍
05/07/2019 +104 days 🔍
05/16/2019 +9 days 🔍
05/17/2019 +1 days 🔍
06/17/2025 +2223 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: RHSA-2019:0971
Researcher: Tavis Ormandy
Organization: Google Project Zero
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2019-3839 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2019-3839
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-135165
SecurityFocus: 106700 - Ghostscript CVE-2019-6116 Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 05/17/2019 07:29
Updated: 06/17/2025 17:06
Changes: 05/17/2019 07:29 (65), 06/13/2020 10:00 (6), 09/21/2023 15:44 (5), 09/21/2023 15:51 (12), 06/17/2025 17:06 (16)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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