ghostscript: .setdistillerkeys PostScript command is accepted even though it is not intended for use
Published Sep 6, 2018
7.8
HIGHCVSS 3.0
EPSS 1.72%
Description
An issue was discovered in Artifex Ghostscript before 9.24. The .setdistillerkeys PostScript command is accepted even though it is not intended for use during document processing (e.g., after the startup phase). This leads to memory corruption, allowing remote attackers able to supply crafted PostScript to crash the interpreter or possibly have unspecified other impact. Note: A reputable source believes that the CVE is potentially a duplicate of CVE-2018-15910 as explained in Red Hat bugzilla (https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1626193)
Affected products
No data.
Configuration 1
- < 9.24
Configuration 2
- 14.04
- 16.04
- 18.04
Configuration 3
- 8.0
- 9.0
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
ghostscript
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
ghostscript
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
ghostscript
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
ghostscript
Not affected
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | ghostscript | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | ghostscript | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | ghostscript | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | ghostscript | Not affected | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
There are no .setdistillerkeys operator in ghostscript. It is suspected it might be a typo from .distillerparamkeys or .setdistillerparams. It was found that .distillerparamkeys and .setdistillerparams methods can be called although they are not intended to be used. However, the only known security threat they cause has been fixed via CVE-2018-15910.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
1 other source (Red Hat) ▾
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
CISA SSVC (Vulnrichment)
Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization from CISA ADP.
Exploitation
NoneAutomatable
NoTechnical Impact
TotalDecision
n/aAssessed Apr 24, 2024 · SSVC 2.0.3
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
Score over time
2021–2026- EPSS v1
- EPSS v5
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
Percentile over time
- EPSS v1
- EPSS v5
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
Table of values (20 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 1.72% (0.01721) | 76.65th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 22, 2026 | 1.72% (0.01721) | 76.48th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 21, 2026 | 2.80% (0.02796) | 85.75th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 6, 2026 | 1.72% (0.01721) | 75.97th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Sep 5, 2026 | 2.80% (0.02796) | 85.44th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 30, 2026 | 1.72% (0.01721) | 75.85th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 28, 2026 | 2.80% (0.02796) | 85.35th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 24, 2026 | 1.72% (0.01721) | 75.72th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 23, 2026 | 2.80% (0.02796) | 85.29th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 1.72% (0.01721) | 74.44th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.61% (0.00612) | 68.00th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.53% (0.00529) | 77.80th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Feb 10, 2024 | 0.53% (0.00529) | 76.35th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Nov 8, 2023 | 0.53% (0.00529) | 74.35th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Sep 3, 2023 | 0.57% (0.00567) | 74.98th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.41% (0.00407) | 69.73th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 1.41% (0.01408) | 72.89th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 1.41% (0.01408) | 49.94th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2022 | 1.91% (0.01914) | 48.23th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Apr 14, 2021 | 1.91% (0.01914) | 0.00th | v1 |
References (11)
- http://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=1497d65039885a52b598b137dd8622bd4672f9be x_refsource_MISC
- http://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=971472c83a345a16dac9f90f91258bb22dd77f22 x_refsource_MISC
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-16585 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1626193 x_refsource_MISCIssue Tracking
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/09/msg00015.html mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-16585
- https://seclists.org/oss-sec/2018/q3/182 x_refsource_MISCMailing ListPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201811-12 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_GENTOOThird Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3768-1/ vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTUThird Party Advisory
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-16585
- https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4288 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANThird Party Advisory
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.