Ghostscript up to 9.27 .pdfexectoken PostScript File access control
| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 6.7 | $0-$5k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Ghostscript up to 9.27. The affected element is the function .pdfexectoken. Executing a manipulation as part of PostScript File can lead to access control.
This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2019-14817. The attack is restricted to local execution. No exploit exists.
A patch should be applied to remediate this issue.
Details
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Ghostscript up to 9.27 (Document Processing Software). This vulnerability affects the function .pdfexectoken. The manipulation as part of a PostScript File leads to a access control vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-264. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:
A flaw was found in, ghostscript versions prior to 9.28, in the .pdfexectoken and other procedures where it did not properly secure its privileged calls, enabling scripts to bypass `-dSAFER` restrictions. A specially crafted PostScript file could disable security protection and then have access to the file system, or execute arbitrary commands.
The weakness was disclosed 09/03/2019 as confirmed git commit (GIT Repository). The advisory is available at git.ghostscript.com. This vulnerability was named CVE-2019-14817 since 08/10/2019. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. This vulnerability is assigned to T1068 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.
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.
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 vulnerability database at Tenable (240001). The entry VDB-141201 is pretty similar. If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Product
Type
Name
Version
- 9.0
- 9.1
- 9.2
- 9.3
- 9.4
- 9.5
- 9.6
- 9.7
- 9.8
- 9.9
- 9.10
- 9.11
- 9.12
- 9.13
- 9.14
- 9.15
- 9.16
- 9.17
- 9.18
- 9.19
- 9.20
- 9.21
- 9.22
- 9.23
- 9.24
- 9.25
- 9.26
- 9.27
License
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔍VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.8VulDB 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.): 🔍
CVSSv2
| AV | AC | Au | C | I | A |
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| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
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| Vector | Complexity | Authentication | Confidentiality | Integrity | Availability |
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
NVD Base Score: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Access controlCWE: CWE-264
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍
Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Yes
Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined
EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍
| 0-Day | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
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| Today | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
Nessus ID: 240001
Nessus Name: TencentOS Server 3: ghostscript (TSSA-2022:0123)
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: PatchStatus: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Upgrade: Ghostscript 9.28
Patch: cd1b1cacadac2479e291efe611979bdc1b3bdb19
Timeline
08/10/2019 🔍09/03/2019 🔍
09/04/2019 🔍
06/17/2025 🔍
Sources
Advisory: RHSA-2019:2594Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍
CVE: CVE-2019-14817 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2019-14817
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-141202
See also: 🔍
Entry
Created: 09/04/2019 07:22Updated: 06/17/2025 16:23
Changes: 09/04/2019 07:22 (60), 08/12/2020 09:05 (1), 12/11/2023 11:51 (5), 12/11/2023 11:58 (12), 06/17/2025 16:23 (16)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
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