CVE-2019-6116Ghostscript Vulnerability
In Artifex Ghostscript through 9.26, ephemeral or transient procedures can allow access to system operators, leading to remote code execution.
Published Mar 21, 2019 · Updated Aug 4, 2026 · Also known as ALPINE-CVE-2019-6116, DEBIAN-CVE-2019-6116, DLA-1670-1, DSA-4372-1, SUSE-SU-2019:0144-1, SUSE-SU-2019:0144-2, SUSE-SU-2019:0145-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2019-6116, USN-3866-1
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2019-6116 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 7.8 v3.1) affecting Ghostscript (Artifex), Ubuntu Linux (Canonical), Debian Linux and 21 more products.
- It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog. A public exploit is reported by tracking sources, but no code link is listed yet.
- EPSS estimates a 42% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including Ghostscript <=9.26, Ghostscript 0:9.07-31.el7_6.9, Ghostscript 9.07-31.el7_6.9.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because public exploit code exists for a high-severity flaw.
Scores
CVSS v3.1
7.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
42%
Higher than 98.6% of all scored CVEs
Exploit maturity
Proof of concept
ATLAS score
47/100
Publication score, see How it works
Exploitation Verdict
KEV listed
Not listed
Federal due date
None
No federal due date
Ransomware use
Not reported
Attributed actors
None named
Exploit & Defence Guidance
Exploit maturity
Proof of concept
Public exploit code
2
Proof-of-concept links
In-the-wild evidence
0
Reports of active use
Advisories And Exploit References
- advisoryhttps://security.alpinelinux.org/vuln/CVE-2019-6116
- advisoryhttps://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2019-6116
- advisoryhttps://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2019-6116
- advisoryhttps://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-6116
- advisoryhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-01/msg00047.html
- advisoryhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-01/msg00048.html
Description
In Artifex Ghostscript through 9.26, ephemeral or transient procedures can allow access to system operators, leading to remote code execution.
Affected Products
171 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| GhostscriptArtifex | See advisory | 9.26 |
| Ubuntu LinuxCanonical | 14.04, 16.04, 18.04, 18.10 | n/a |
| Debian LinuxDebian | 8.0, 9.0 | n/a |
| FedoraFedoraproject | 28, 29, 30 | n/a |
| LeapOpensuse | 15.0, 42.3 | n/a |
Patched Releases
Ghostscript
<=9.26, 0:9.07-31.el7_6.9, 9.07-31.el7_6.9, 9.25-5.amzn2, 9.26-2, 9.26-r1, 9.26-r2, 9.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.14.04.4, 9.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.4, 9.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.4, 9.26a-14.15.1, 9.26a-23.19.1, 9.26a-3.12.1, 9.26a-lp150.2.12.1, 9.26a~dfsg-0+deb8u1, 9.26a~dfsg-0+deb9u1, 9.26a~dfsg-1, 9.54.0-2.2
ghostscript-cups
9.07-31.el7_6.9, 9.25-5.amzn2
ghostscript-devel
9.07-31.el7_6.9, 9.26a-14.15.1, 9.26a-23.19.1, 9.26a-3.12.1, 9.26a-lp150.2.12.1, 9.54.0-2.2
ghostscript-doc
9.07-31.el7_6.9, 9.25-5.amzn2
ghostscript-gtk
9.07-31.el7_6.9, 9.25-5.amzn2
ghostscript-mini
9.26a-14.15.1, 9.26a-lp150.2.12.1
ghostscript-mini-devel
9.26a-14.15.1, 9.26a-lp150.2.12.1
ghostscript-x11
9.26a-14.15.1, 9.26a-23.19.1, 9.26a-3.12.1, 9.26a-lp150.2.12.1, 9.54.0-2.2
libgs
9.25-5.amzn2
libgs-devel
9.25-5.amzn2
libspectre
0.2.7-12.6.1, 0.2.7-17.7.1, 0.2.8-3.6.1
libspectre-devel
0.2.7-12.6.1, 0.2.7-17.7.1, 0.2.8-3.6.1, 0.2.8-lp150.2.9.2
libspectre1
0.2.7-12.6.1, 0.2.7-17.7.1, 0.2.8-3.6.1, 0.2.8-lp150.2.9.2
rootio-ghostscript
9.26-r1, 9.26a~dfsg-1
Timeline
Publicly disclosed
Mar 21, 2019
Last updated
Aug 4, 2026
References
- advisorysecurity.alpinelinux.org · CVE-2019-6116
- advisorysecurity-tracker.debian.org · CVE-2019-6116
- advisoryubuntu.com · CVE-2019-6116
- advisorycve.org · CVERecord
- advisorylists.opensuse.org · msg00047.html
FAQ
Common Questions.
In Artifex Ghostscript through 9.26, ephemeral or transient procedures can allow access to system operators, leading to remote code execution.
Affected: Ghostscript (Artifex); Ubuntu Linux (Canonical) versions 14.04, 16.04, 18.04, 18.10; Debian Linux versions 8.0, 9.0, among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog.
No, it is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
A public exploit is reported by tracking sources, but no code link is listed yet.
Fixed versions are available, including Ghostscript <=9.26, Ghostscript 0:9.07-31.el7_6.9, Ghostscript 9.07-31.el7_6.9.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because public exploit code exists for a high-severity flaw.
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