gv/gvv/ggv/gnome-gv/kghostview PDF/PostScript File memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.3$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as problematic has been detected in gv, gvv, ggv, gnome-gv and kghostview. This affects an unknown function of the component PDF/PostScript File Handler. The manipulation leads to memory corruption. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2002-0838. Furthermore, there is an exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in gv, gvv, ggv, gnome-gv and kghostview and classified as problematic. This issue affects some unknown functionality of the component PDF/PostScript File Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Buffer overflow in (1) gv 3.5.8 and earlier, (2) gvv 1.0.2 and earlier, (3) ggv 1.99.90 and earlier, (4) gnome-gv, and (5) kghostview in kdegraphics 2.2.2 and earlier, allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a malformed (a) PDF or (b) PostScript file, which is processed by an unsafe call to sscanf.

The weakness was shared 10/10/2002 by zen-parse as confirmed advisory (CERT.org). The advisory is shared at kb.cert.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2002-0838. The exploitation is known to be easy. An attack has to be approached locally. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Technical details are unknown but a public exploit is available.

The exploit is available at securityfocus.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 15019 (Debian DSA-182-1 : kdegraphics - buffer overflow), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Debian Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 105082 (Red Hat GV Malformed File Local Buffer Overflow Vulnerability).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published 3 weeks after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (10201), Exploit-DB (21871), Tenable (15019), SecurityFocus (BID 5808†) and OSVDB (8650†). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Name

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.3

VulDB Base Score: 5.9
VulDB Temp Score: 5.3
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

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Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 15019
Nessus Name: Debian DSA-182-1 : kdegraphics - buffer overflow
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 53733
OpenVAS Name: Debian Security Advisory DSA 176-1 (gv)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

09/26/2002 🔍
09/26/2002 +0 days 🔍
10/10/2002 +14 days 🔍
10/10/2002 +0 days 🔍
10/28/2002 +18 days 🔍
09/29/2004 +702 days 🔍
01/27/2005 +120 days 🔍
07/30/2014 +3471 days 🔍
09/13/2025 +4063 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: kb.cert.org
Researcher: zen-parse
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2002-0838 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2002-0838
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-19049
CERT: 🔍
X-Force: 10201
SecurityFocus: 5808 - GV Malformed PDF/PS File Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
OSVDB: 8650 - gvv sscanf Overflow
Vulnerability Center: 6929 - DoS in Johannes Plass gv via sscanf(), Medium

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013

Entryinfo

Created: 07/30/2014 16:42
Updated: 09/13/2025 02:35
Changes: 07/30/2014 16:42 (73), 05/29/2019 16:31 (5), 10/25/2024 13:01 (17), 11/23/2024 19:19 (1), 09/13/2025 02:35 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:DE5:103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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