Description
Ghostscript before 9.21 might allow remote attackers to bypass the SAFER mode protection mechanism and consequently execute arbitrary code by leveraging type confusion in .initialize_dsc_parser.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | ghostscript | 9.19~dfsg-3.1 | — |
| Debian 13 | ghostscript | 9.19~dfsg-3.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | ghostscript | 9.19~dfsg-3.1 | — |
| Debian 8 | ghostscript | 9.06~dfsg-2+deb8u3 | DSA-3691-1 |
| Debian 7 | ghostscript | 9.05~dfsg-6.3+deb7u3 | DLA-674-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | ghostscript | 9.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu2.2 | USN-3148-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | ghostscript | 9.10~dfsg-0ubuntu10.5 | USN-3148-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | ghostscript +4 | 9.07-20.el7_3.1 | RHSA-2017:0013 |
| RHEL 6 | ghostscript +3 | 8.70-21.el6_8.1 | RHSA-2017:0014 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP1 | ghostscript | 9.15-11.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2492-1 |
| SLES 12 | ghostscript | 9.15-11.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2492-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | ghostscript-library | 8.62-32.38.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2493-1 |
| SLES 11 SP3 | ghostscript-library | 8.62-32.38.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2493-1 |
| SLES 11 SP2 | ghostscript-library | 8.62-32.38.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2493-1 |
Show 7 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | ghostscript | 9.15-11.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2492-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 | ghostscript | 9.15-11.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2492-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | ghostscript-library | 8.62-32.38.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2493-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 5 | ghostscript-library | 8.62-32.38.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2493-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 2.1 | ghostscript-library | 8.62-32.38.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2493-1 |
| SUSE Manager 2.1 | ghostscript-library | 8.62-32.38.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2493-1 |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 11 SP3 | ghostscript-library | 8.62-32.38.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2493-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | ghostscript | 9.20-2.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10003-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | ghostscript +4 | 9.07-20.el7_3.1 | ELSA-2017-0013 |
Advisories 9
- RHSA-2017:0013 Red Hat Security Advisory: ghostscript security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2017:0014 Red Hat Security Advisory: ghostscript security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- USN-3148-1 ghostscript vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DLA-674-1 ghostscript - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-3691-1 ghostscript - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:2493-1 Security update for ghostscript-library SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:2492-1 Security update for ghostscript-library SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10003-1 ghostscript-9.20-2.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2017-0013 Moderate: ghostscript security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Jan 4, 2017
References
- DSA-3691 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2017:0013 vendor-advisory
- https://bugs.ghostscript.com/show_bug.cgi?id=697190
- RHSA-2017:0014 vendor-advisory
- http://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git%3Bh=875a0095f37626a721c7ff57d606a0f95af03913
- [oss-security] 20161005 Re: CVE Request - multiple ghostscript -dSAFER sandbox problems mailing-list
- 95337 vdb-entry
- GLSA-201702-31 vendor-advisory