CVE-2019-3839 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

CVE-2019-3839 pertains to a vulnerability in Ghostscript versions prior to 9.27 that allows unauthorized access to the file system through a specially crafted PostScript file.

Understanding CVE-2019-3839

This CVE identifies a security flaw in Ghostscript that could be exploited to bypass system restrictions and gain unauthorized access.

What is CVE-2019-3839?

After the fix for CVE-2019-6116, certain privileged operators in Ghostscript remained accessible, enabling a crafted PostScript file to exploit the vulnerability and access the file system.

The Impact of CVE-2019-3839

The vulnerability poses a high severity risk with a CVSS base score of 7.3. It allows an attacker to bypass security measures and potentially compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-3839

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Ghostscript versions prior to 9.27 are susceptible to unauthorized file system access through carefully designed PostScript files.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Ghostscript
Vendor: The Ghostscript Project
Vulnerable Version: 9.28

Exploitation Mechanism

Attack Complexity: Low
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Scope: Unchanged
Availability Impact: Low
Confidentiality Impact: Low
Integrity Impact: Low

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-3839 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Ghostscript to version 9.27 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor for any unusual file system access activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement least privilege access controls.
Regularly review and update security configurations.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly.
Stay informed about security advisories from relevant vendors.