#VU16576 Stack-based buffer overflow in Ghostscript - CVE-2018-16802

Vulnerability identifier: #VU16576

Vulnerability risk: High

CVSSv4.0: 8.1 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Amber]

CVE-ID: CVE-2018-16802

CWE-ID: CWE-121

Exploitation vector: Network

Exploit availability: No

Vulnerable software:
Ghostscript
Universal components / Libraries / Libraries used by multiple products

Vendor: Artifex Software, Inc.

Description

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.

The vulnerability exists due to incorrect "restoration of privilege" checking when running out of stack during exception handling. A remote unauthenticated attacker can supply specially crafted PostScript, trigger memory corruption and execute code using the "pipe" instruction.

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may result in complete compromise of vulnerable system.

Note: the vulnerability exists due to an incomplete fix for CVE-2018-16509.

Mitigation
Install update from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

Ghostscript: 5.50 - 9.24

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External links
https://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git;a=commitdiff;h=5812b1b78fc4d36fdc293b7859de69241140d590

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Q & A

Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?

Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote non-authenticated attacker via the Internet.

Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?

No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.