Vulnerability identifier: #VU14734

Vulnerability risk: High

CVSSv3.1: 8.5 [CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C]

CVE-ID: CVE-2018-16540

CWE-ID: CWE-416

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 compromise vulnerable system.

The vulnerability exists due to a use-after-free error in copydevice handling. A remote attacker can supply specially crafted PostScript files to the builtin PDF14 converter and crash the application or execute arbitrary code on the system.

Successful exploitation of the vulnerability may allow an attacker to compromise vulnerable system.

Mitigation
Install update from vendor's website.

Vulnerable software versions

Ghostscript: 9.00 - 9.23

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External links
http://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git;a=commit;h=c432131c3fdb2143e148e8ba88555f7f7a63b25e
http://bugs.ghostscript.com/show_bug.cgi?id=699661
http://www.artifex.com/news/ghostscript-security-resolved/ 
http://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4288

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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.