Description
The set_text_distance function in devices/vector/gdevpdts.c in the pdfwrite component in Artifex Ghostscript through 9.22 does not prevent overflows in text-positioning calculation, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted PDF document.
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 | 9.22~dfsg-2.1 | — |
| Debian 13 | ghostscript | 9.22~dfsg-2.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | ghostscript | 9.22~dfsg-2.1 | — |
| Debian 7 | ghostscript | 9.05~dfsg-6.3+deb7u8 | DLA-1363-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | ghostscript | 9.22~dfsg+1-0ubuntu1.1 | USN-3636-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | ghostscript | 9.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu2.8 | USN-3636-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | ghostscript | 9.10~dfsg-0ubuntu10.12 | USN-3636-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | ghostscript +4 | 9.07-29.el7_5.2 | RHSA-2018:2918 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 | ghostscript | 9.23-3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:1884-1 |
| SLES 12 SP3 | ghostscript | 9.15-23.10.2 | SUSE-SU-2018:1332-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | ghostscript-library | 8.62-32.47.10.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:1369-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | ghostscript | 9.15-23.10.2 | SUSE-SU-2018:1332-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | ghostscript-library | 8.62-32.47.10.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:1369-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | ghostscript | 9.54.0-2.2 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10783-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | ghostscript | 9.23-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.24 | wireshark | 2.4.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | ghostscript | 9.23-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | wireshark | 2.4.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | ghostscript | 9.23-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | wireshark | 2.4.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | ghostscript | 9.23-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | wireshark | 2.4.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | ghostscript | 9.23-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | wireshark | 2.4.6-r0 | — |
Show 15 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | ghostscript | 9.23-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.19 | wireshark | 2.4.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | ghostscript | 9.23-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | wireshark | 2.4.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | ghostscript | 9.23-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | wireshark | 2.4.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | ghostscript | 9.23-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | wireshark | 2.4.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | ghostscript | 9.23-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | wireshark | 2.4.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | ghostscript | 9.23-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | wireshark | 2.4.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | ghostscript | 9.23-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | wireshark | 2.4.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.12 | ghostscript | 9.23-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.12 | wireshark | 2.4.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.11 | ghostscript | 9.23-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.11 | wireshark | 2.4.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.10 | ghostscript | 9.23-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.10 | wireshark | 2.4.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.9 | ghostscript | 9.23-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.9 | wireshark | 2.4.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.8 | ghostscript | 9.23-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.8 | wireshark | 2.4.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.7 | ghostscript | 9.23-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.7 | wireshark | 2.4.6-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.6 | ghostscript | 9.23-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.5 | ghostscript | 9.23-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.5 | wireshark | 2.2.14-r0 | — |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2 | ghostscript +4 | 9.06-2.amzn2.0.2 | ALAS2-2018-1022 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | ghostscript +4 | 9.07-29.el7_5.2 | ELSA-2018-2918 |
Advisories 9
- RHSA-2018:2918 Red Hat Security Advisory: ghostscript security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- USN-3636-1 ghostscript vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DLA-1363-1 ghostscript - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10783-1 ghostscript-9.54.0-2.2 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:1369-1 Security update for ghostscript-library SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:1332-1 Security update for ghostscript SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:1884-1 Security update for ghostscript SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2018-2918 Important: ghostscript security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Oct 15, 2018
- ALAS2-2018-1022 Moderate: ghostscript security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · May 29, 2018
References
- RHSA-2018:2918 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-201811-12 vendor-advisory
- http://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=39b1e54b2968620723bf32e96764c88797714879
- [debian-lts-announce] 20180425 [SECURITY] [DLA 1363-1] ghostscript security update mailing-list
- USN-3636-1 vendor-advisory
- https://bugs.ghostscript.com/show_bug.cgi?id=699255
- 1040729 vdb-entry