Ghostscript: User-assisted execution of arbitrary code

Security Team  Contact Address

Updated March 23, 2009

1.  Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Version Information

Advisory Reference GLSA 200903-37 / ghostscript-gpl ghostscript-esp ghostscript-gnu
Release Date March 23, 2009
Latest Revision March 23, 2009: 01
Impact normal
Exploitable remote
Package Vulnerable versions Unaffected versions Architecture(s)
app-text/ghostscript-gpl < 8.64-r2 >= 8.64-r2 All supported architectures
app-text/ghostscript-gnu < 8.62.0 >= 8.62.0 All supported architectures
app-text/ghostscript-esp <= 8.15.4-r1 All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #261087

Synopsis

Multiple integer overflows in the Ghostscript ICC library might allow for user-assisted execution of arbitrary code.

2.  Impact Information

Background

Ghostscript is an interpreter for the PostScript language and the Portable Document Format (PDF).

Description

Jan Lieskovsky from the Red Hat Security Response Team discovered the following vulnerabilities in Ghostscript's ICC Library:

Impact

A remote attacker could entice a user to open a specially crafted PostScript file containing images and a malicious ICC profile, possibly resulting in the execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application.

3.  Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All GPL Ghostscript users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-text/ghostscript-gpl-8.64-r2"

All GNU Ghostscript users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.2: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=app-text/ghostscript-gnu-8.62.0"

We recommend that users unmerge ESP Ghostscript and use GPL or GNU Ghostscript instead:

Code Listing 3.3: Resolution

# emerge --unmerge "app-text/ghostscript-esp"

For installation instructions, see above.

4.  References