CVE-2017-8291 Artifex Ghostscript: memory-safety flaw
In plain words: The program mishandles the memory it uses to keep track of data. A specially made input can scramble that memory. Usually lets an attacker crash the program or run their own code with its permissions.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Jun 14, 2022
What to do
- Install Artifex's security update for Ghostscript. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
- Patch anything in this catalog first, ahead of normal patch cycles.
- Put admin and file-transfer apps behind a VPN or single sign-on instead of the open internet.
Who is affected
Work IT. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.
What's at risk: Mass data theft and ransomware: a single flaw in a file-transfer or email server has exposed thousands of organisations at once.
The details
- Official name
- Artifex Ghostscript Type Confusion Vulnerability
- Product
- Artifex Ghostscript
- CISA description
- Artifex Ghostscript allows -dSAFER bypass and remote command execution via .rsdparams type confusion with a "/OutputFile.
- Type of flaw
- Memory-safety flaw (CWE-704)
- Confirmed exploited
- May 24, 2022
- US federal patch deadline
- Jun 14, 2022
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Answering about CVE-2017-8291 ·
Questions about CVE-2017-8291
Is CVE-2017-8291 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2017-8291 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on May 24, 2022, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.
How do I fix CVE-2017-8291?
Install Artifex's security update for Ghostscript. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Keep a list of every internet-facing server you run so nothing is forgotten.
Am I affected by CVE-2017-8291?
Only if you use Artifex Ghostscript. Aimed mostly at company systems — you are affected through the companies you use, not your own phone.