CVE-2018-16513 : Security Advisory and Response

Artifex Ghostscript before version 9.24 contained a vulnerability that could allow attackers to crash the interpreter or cause other damages by exploiting a type confusion vulnerability within the setcolor function.

Understanding CVE-2018-16513

What is CVE-2018-16513?

In Artifex Ghostscript before version 9.24, a type confusion vulnerability in the setcolor function could be exploited by attackers through crafted PostScript files to crash the interpreter or potentially cause other unspecified damages.

The Impact of CVE-2018-16513

The vulnerability could lead to a crash of the interpreter or other unspecified impacts when manipulated by attackers through PostScript files.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-16513

Vulnerability Description

Prior to version 9.24 of Artifex Ghostscript, attackers could exploit a type confusion vulnerability in the setcolor function to crash the interpreter or cause other unspecified damages by manipulating PostScript files.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: n/a
Vendor: n/a
Versions affected: n/a

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could manipulate PostScript files to exploit the type confusion vulnerability within the setcolor function, leading to interpreter crashes or other potential damages.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Artifex Ghostscript to version 9.24 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Be cautious when handling PostScript files from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches promptly.
Implement proper file validation mechanisms to prevent exploitation of vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security updates and patches provided by Artifex Ghostscript to address known vulnerabilities.