Artifex Ghostscript 9.51 contrib/gdevdj9.c PDF File out-of-bounds write

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
6.3$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Artifex Ghostscript 9.51. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file contrib/gdevdj9.c. The manipulation as part of PDF File results in out-of-bounds write. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2020-16291. The attack can be executed remotely. There is not any exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Artifex Ghostscript 9.51 (Document Processing Software). It has been classified as critical. Affected is some unknown functionality of the file contrib/gdevdj9.c. The manipulation as part of a PDF File leads to a out-of-bounds write vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-787. The product writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

A buffer overflow vulnerability in contrib/gdevdj9.c of Artifex Software GhostScript v9.50 allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service via a crafted PDF file. This is fixed in v9.51.

The weakness was released 08/13/2020. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2020-16291 since 08/03/2020. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 9.51 eliminates this vulnerability.

Entries connected to this vulnerability are available at VDB-159760, VDB-159759, VDB-159758 and VDB-159757. Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.3

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

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Out-of-bounds write
CWE: CWE-787 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Ghostscript 9.51

Timelineinfo

08/03/2020 🔍
08/13/2020 +10 days 🔍
08/13/2020 +0 days 🔍
02/02/2026 +1999 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: artifex.com

Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2020-16291 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2020-16291
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-159756
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 08/13/2020 13:01
Updated: 02/02/2026 13:38
Changes: 08/13/2020 13:01 (37), 08/13/2020 13:06 (18), 03/04/2025 22:59 (16), 02/02/2026 13:35 (2), 02/02/2026 13:38 (6)
Complete: 🔍
Committer: lywand
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Want to know what is going to be exploited?

We predict KEV entries!