CVE-2019-14813: artifex software ghostscript Incorrect Use of Privileged APIs
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2019-14813 is a critical (CVSS 9.8) Incorrect Use of Privileged APIs vulnerability in artifex software ghostscript. EPSS estimates a 10.96% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 95.8% of scored vulnerabilities.
Severe, CVSS 7.3 (CVE.org); no exploitation reported by the 5 checked sources; EPSS 11% (FIRST, 03-11-2026)
Source freshness unavailable
How is this decided?Advisory lineage
Upstream 0 · Downstream 10 · Related 5Timeline
- 06-09-2019PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 05-08-2024Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
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.
CVSS metrics
8 scores · 5 sources · 3 versions- OSV · AlpineEcosystem advisory · calculated9.8CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated9.8CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- OSV · DebianEcosystem advisory · calculated9.8CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- NVDNIST7.3HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated9.8CriticalCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HDiffers
EPSS trend
Probability
10.96%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
96%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
Decrease -0.43 pp
From 11.40% on 04-10-2026
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogs
CISA KEVNot in the CISA KEV catalog.
ENISA CNWNot in the ENISA CNW catalog.
CIRCLNot in the CIRCL catalog.
Public exploits
0 foundNo public exploits indexed.
Weaknesses
CWE · root cause- CWE-648Incorrect Use of Privileged APIsThe product does not conform to the API requirements for a function call that requires extra privileges. This could allow attackers to gain privileges by causing the function to be called incorrectly.
- CWE-863Incorrect AuthorizationThe product performs an authorization check when an actor attempts to access a resource or perform an action, but it does not correctly perform the check.
Affected systems
Known conditions: network-reachable, no authentication, no user interaction (CVSS vector). Other conditions: not stated in public data.
Redhat8 products
- enterprise_linuxEOL7.0 | 8.0
- enterprise_linux_desktop7.0
- enterprise_linux_server7.0
- enterprise_linux_server_aus7.7
- enterprise_linux_server_eus7.7
Debian2 products
- ghostscript< 9.28~~rc2~dfsg-1
- debian_linuxEOL8.0 | 9.0 | 10.0
Alpine1 product
- ghostscript≥ 9.00, < 9.27-r3 | ≥ 9.00, < 9.26-r4
Artifex1 product
- ghostscript≥ 9.00, ≤ 9.50
Artifex software1 product
- ghostscriptghostscript versions 9.x before 9.28
Fedoraproject1 product
- fedoraEOL29 | 30 | 31
Opensuse1 product
- leapEOL15.0 | 15.1
Ubuntu1 product
- ghostscript< 9.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.11 | < 9.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.11
8 vendors · 16 products
References
18 links- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2019-14813X Refsource CONFIRMIssue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/09/msg00007.htmlMailing ListX Refsource MLISTThird Party Advisory
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00090.htmlVendor AdvisoryX Refsource SUSEMailing ListThird Party Advisory
Show all 18 references
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00088.htmlVendor AdvisoryX Refsource SUSEMailing ListThird Party Advisory