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CVE-2019-14813· NVD / CVE Program· CNA redhat

A flaw was found in ghostscript, versions 9.x before 9.50, in the setsystemparams procedure where it did not properly secure its privileged

Noroxi assessment

Priority: Plan (action score 42/100)

  • The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
  • Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 10.9% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 95.8% of all records.
  • Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. No account or password is required. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
  • Fixed version: ghostscript (Alpine:v3.10) 9.27-r3; ghostscript (Alpine:v3.7) 9.26-r4; ghostscript (Debian:10) 9.27~dfsg-2+deb10u2.
  • Severity is disputed: the assigning authority (CNA) scores it 7.3, NVD 9.8.

Add it to your regular patch cycle. Upgrade to ghostscript (Alpine:v3.10) 9.27-r3; ghostscript (Alpine:v3.7) 9.26-r4; ghostscript (Debian:10) 9.27~dfsg-2+deb10u2 or later.

Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it

Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS

A flaw was found in ghostscript, versions 9.x before 9.50, in the setsystemparams procedure where it did not properly secure its privileged calls, enabling scripts to bypass `-dSAFER` restrictions. A specially crafted PostScript file could disable security protection and then have access to the file system, or execute arbitrary commands.

CriticalCVSS 9.8 · v3.1—No exploit Fix available
Published
Sep 6, 2019
Updated
Jun 16, 2026
EPSS
10.9% · 95th percentile

Report tools

JSON

Action score

42

Plan

Add it to your regular patch cycle.

CVSS
39 / 40 · 9.8 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
3 / 30 · 10.9%

CNA vs NVD score

NVD
9.8
CNA · redhat
7.3
2.5 point gap

CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.

Get told when this record changes

  • Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
  • No public exploit code on record
  • A fix has been released

If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.

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When you'll hear from us

  • when it enters CISA KEV
  • when exploit code appears or is weaponized
  • when the record is updated (including a fixed version)
  • when EPSS rises 20 points in a week

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Noroxi analysis

What does it mean in your environment?

The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.

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Affected systems

Is your version affected?

Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.

VendorProduct
artifexghostscript
redhatopenshift container platform
redhatenterprise linux
redhatenterprise linux desktop
redhatenterprise linux server
redhatenterprise linux server aus
redhatenterprise linux server eus
redhatenterprise linux server tus
redhatenterprise linux workstation
fedoraprojectfedora
opensuseleap
debiandebian linux

Affected versions

NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.

  • artifex ghostscript9.00 and later · up to 9.50 inclusive
  • debian debian linux10.0
  • debian debian linux8.0
  • debian debian linux9.0
  • fedoraproject fedora29
  • fedoraproject fedora30
  • fedoraproject fedora31
  • opensuse leap15.0
  • opensuse leap15.1
  • redhat enterprise linux7.0
  • redhat enterprise linux8.0
  • redhat enterprise linux desktop7.0
  • redhat enterprise linux server7.0
  • redhat enterprise linux server aus7.7
  • redhat enterprise linux server eus7.7
  • redhat enterprise linux server tus7.7
  • redhat enterprise linux workstation7.0
  • redhat openshift container platform3.11
  • redhat openshift container platform4.1

Versions reported by the vendor

Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (redhat). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.

  • Artifex Software ghostscript

    • ghostscript versions 9.x before 9.28affected

Package-level exposure

OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
Alpine:v3.10ghostscriptfrom 9.00 · before 9.27-r39.27-r3
Alpine:v3.7ghostscriptfrom 9.00 · before 9.26-r49.26-r4
Debian:10ghostscriptbefore 9.27~dfsg-2+deb10u29.27~dfsg-2+deb10u2
Debian:12ghostscriptbefore 9.28~~rc2~dfsg-19.28~~rc2~dfsg-1
Debian:8ghostscriptbefore 9.26a~dfsg-0+deb8u59.26a~dfsg-0+deb8u5
Debian:9ghostscriptbefore 9.26a~dfsg-0+deb9u59.26a~dfsg-0+deb9u5
openSUSE:Leap 15.0ghostscriptbefore 9.27-lp150.2.23.19.27-lp150.2.23.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.0ghostscript-minibefore 9.27-lp150.2.23.19.27-lp150.2.23.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.1ghostscriptbefore 9.27-lp151.3.6.19.27-lp151.3.6.1
openSUSE:Leap 15.1ghostscript-minibefore 9.27-lp151.3.6.19.27-lp151.3.6.1
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientghostscriptbefore 0:9.25-2.el7_7.20:9.25-2.el7_7.2
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientghostscript-cupsbefore 0:9.25-2.el7_7.20:9.25-2.el7_7.2
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientghostscript-debuginfobefore 0:9.25-2.el7_7.20:9.25-2.el7_7.2
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientghostscript-docbefore 0:9.25-2.el7_7.20:9.25-2.el7_7.2
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientghostscript-gtkbefore 0:9.25-2.el7_7.20:9.25-2.el7_7.2
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientlibgsbefore 0:9.25-2.el7_7.20:9.25-2.el7_7.2
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientlibgs-develbefore 0:9.25-2.el7_7.20:9.25-2.el7_7.2
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamghostscriptbefore 0:9.25-2.el8_0.30:9.25-2.el8_0.3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamghostscript-debuginfobefore 0:9.25-2.el8_0.30:9.25-2.el8_0.3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamghostscript-debugsourcebefore 0:9.25-2.el8_0.30:9.25-2.el8_0.3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamghostscript-gtk-debuginfobefore 0:9.25-2.el8_0.30:9.25-2.el8_0.3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamghostscript-x11-debuginfobefore 0:9.25-2.el8_0.30:9.25-2.el8_0.3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamlibgsbefore 0:9.25-2.el8_0.30:9.25-2.el8_0.3
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamlibgs-debuginfobefore 0:9.25-2.el8_0.30:9.25-2.el8_0.3

+8

Same product

artifex: all records

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

  • CVE-2017-8291Artifex Ghostscript through 2017-04-26 allows -dSAFER bypass and remote command execution via .rsdparams type confusion with a "/OutputFile KEV
    90Now
  • CVE-2021-3781A trivial sandbox (enabled with the `-dSAFER` option) escape flaw was found in the ghostscript interpreter by injecting a specially crafted
    64This week
  • CVE-2016-7976The PS Interpreter in Ghostscript 9.18 and 9.20 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted userparams.
    60This week

Published before and after this one in the same product

  • ← EarlierCVE-2019-14811Sep 3, 2019 · A flaw was found in, ghostscript versions prior to 9.50, in the .pdf_hook_DSC_Creator procedure where it did not properly secure its privile
    32Monitor
  • ← EarlierCVE-2019-14817Sep 3, 2019 · A flaw was found in, ghostscript versions prior to 9.50, in the .pdfexectoken and other procedures where it did not properly secure its priv
    32Monitor
  • Later →CVE-2019-14869Nov 15, 2019 · A flaw was found in all versions of ghostscript 9.x before 9.50, where the `.charkeys` procedure, where it did not properly secure its privi
    36Monitor

Remediation

Which version to upgrade to

Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.

Product / packageFixed versionSource
alpine:ghostscript9.27-r3 · Alpine:v3.10Package registry (OSV)
debian:ghostscript9.28~~rc2~dfsg-1 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:ghostscript9.27-lp150.2.23.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.0Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:ghostscript-mini9.27-lp150.2.23.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.0Package registry (OSV)
red hat:ghostscript0:9.25-2.el7_7.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:ghostscript-cups0:9.25-2.el7_7.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:ghostscript-debuginfo0:9.25-2.el7_7.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:ghostscript-debugsource0:9.25-2.el8_0.3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:ghostscript-doc0:9.25-2.el7_7.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:ghostscript-gtk0:9.25-2.el7_7.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:ghostscript-gtk-debuginfo0:9.25-2.el8_0.3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:ghostscript-tools-dvipdf0:9.25-2.el8_0.3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::crbPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:ghostscript-x11-debuginfo0:9.25-2.el8_0.3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:libgs0:9.25-2.el7_7.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:libgs-debuginfo0:9.25-2.el8_0.3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:libgs-devel0:9.25-2.el7_7.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
suse:ghostscript9.27-3.21.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15Package registry (OSV)

Exploit status

No known public exploit

No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.

Research context

For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.

Timeline

From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.

No dated events beyond publication.

EPSS, last 120 days

FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).

Patch and commit links

Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.

No commit or PR link among the references.

Credits

All researchers

Finders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.

No credits in the CNA record.

Variant candidates

Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.

No nightly-computed relations.

Chain candidates

An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.

—

Bug bounty scope

No known public program.

Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).

Technical details

Attack conditions

  • Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
  • No account or password is required.
  • No user action is required.
  • No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.

If successful

Confidentiality
high · data can be read
Integrity
high · data or configuration can be modified
Availability
high · the service can be disrupted
Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality impact
High
Integrity impact
High
Availability impact
High

Weakness class (CWE)

CWE-648 · Incorrect Use of Privileged APIs

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

nvd-primary

Attack context

MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.

ATT&CK techniques

—

Change log

  1. Fix✗ → ✓

For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →

References

Show all references (12 more)

Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.

All records