CVE-2020-16303: artifex ghostscript Use After Free
CVSS: 7.8v3.1HighModified
AliasesALPINE-CVE-2020-16303UBUNTU-CVE-2020-16303DEBIAN-CVE-2020-16303
Published 13-08-2020Last modified 04-08-2024
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2020-16303 is a high (CVSS 7.8) Use After Free vulnerability in artifex ghostscript. EPSS estimates a 1.81% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 78.3% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.
CVSS score
7.8/10
010
High · v3.1 (NVD)EPSS score
1.81%
0%100%
Low · +0.01 pp in 30 daysKEVNot listedIn no KEV catalog
RansomwareNone recordedNo known use recorded
Public exploits1reference
Advisory lineage
Upstream 0 · Downstream 5 · Related 1Timeline
- 13-08-2020PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 04-08-2024Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
A use-after-free vulnerability in xps_finish_image_path() in devices/vector/gdevxps.c of Artifex Software GhostScript v9.50 allows a remote attacker to escalate privileges via a crafted PDF file. This is fixed in v9.51.
CVSS metrics
5 scores · 4 sources · 2 versionsHigh 7.8Preferred score · NVD (NIST)
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HSourcesAll 4 agree
- OSV · AlpineEcosystem advisory · calculated7.8HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated7.8HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- OSV · DebianEcosystem advisory · calculated7.8HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Medium 6.8Preferred score · NVD (NIST)
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:PSourcesSingle source
EPSS trend
Probability
1.81%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
78%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
+0.01 pp
From 1.79% on 20-09-2026
20-09-202620-10-2026
EPSS score1.81%
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogsNot in any of the 3 tracked catalogs.
Public exploits
1 foundExploit Reference (bugs.ghostscript.com)
Maturity: unknown
Weaknesses
CWE · root causeAffected systems
Debian2 products
- ghostscript< 9.51~dfsg-1
- debian_linuxEOL9.0 | 10.0
Alpine1 product
- ghostscript< 9.51-r0
Artifex1 product
- ghostscript9.50
Canonical1 product
- ubuntu_linuxEOL16.04 | 18.04 | 20.04
Ubuntu1 product
- ghostscript< 9.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.13 | < 9.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.13 | < 9.50~dfsg-5ubuntu4.2
5 vendors · 6 products
References
11 links
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/08/msg00032.htmlMailing ListX Refsource MLISTThird Party Advisory