HOME VULNERABILITIESCVE-2019-14813

CRITICAL

CVE-2019-14813

CWE-648Published: September 6, 2019· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

9.8

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

A flaw was found in ghostscript, versions 9.x before 9.50, in the setsystemparams procedure where it did not properly secure its privileged calls, enabling scripts to bypass `-dSAFER` restrictions. A specially crafted PostScript file could disable security protection and then have access to the file system, or execute arbitrary commands.

Technical Analysis

CVE-2019-14813 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 9.8.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability

Attack VectorNetwork

Attack ComplexityLow

Privileges Req.None

User InteractionNone

ScopeUnchanged

Impact

ConfidentialityHigh

IntegrityHigh

AvailabilityHigh

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected Vendors & Products

artifex1 product(s)

ghostscript

Debian1 product(s)

debian linux

Fedora1 product(s)

fedora

openSUSE1 product(s)

leap

Red Hat8 product(s)

openshift container platformenterprise linuxenterprise linux desktopenterprise linux serverenterprise linux server ausenterprise linux server eusenterprise linux server tusenterprise linux workstation

Source: NVD CPE · 19 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time

Offensive Security exploit database

GitHub PoC Search

Community PoC repositories

Rapid7 / Metasploit

Metasploit module search

Security advisories & exploits

Official NIST entry

CVE Program entry

External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

Official Patches & Advisories

PATCHhttps://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2019-14813

PATCHhttps://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2019-14813

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00088.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00090.html

ADVISORYhttps://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:2824

ADVISORYhttps://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:2594

ADVISORYhttps://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/09/msg00007.html

ADVISORYhttps://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Sep/15

ADVISORYhttps://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202004-03

ADVISORYhttps://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4518

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00088.html

ADVISORYhttp://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00090.html

ADVISORYhttps://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:2824

ADVISORYhttps://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:2594

ADVISORYhttps://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/09/msg00007.html

ADVISORYhttps://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Sep/15

ADVISORYhttps://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202004-03

ADVISORYhttps://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4518

All References (26)

→

http://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=885444fcbe10dc42787ecb76686c8ee4dd33bf33

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00088.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00090.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:2824Third Party Advisory

→

https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:2594Third Party Advisory

→

https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2019-14813Issue Tracking · Patch · Third Party Advisory

→

https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/09/msg00007.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6AATIHU32MYKUOXQDJQU4X4DDVL7NAY3/

→

https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/LBUC4DBBJTRFNCR3IODBV4IXB2C2HI3V/

→

https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ZP34D27RKYV2POJ3NJLSVCHUA5V5C45A/

→

https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Sep/15Mailing List · Third Party Advisory

→

https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202004-03Third Party Advisory

→

https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4518Third Party Advisory

→

http://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=885444fcbe10dc42787ecb76686c8ee4dd33bf33

→

http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00088.htmlMailing List · Third Party Advisory

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2019-14813

CVSS Score9.8 / 10

SeverityCRITICAL

WeaknessCWE-648

CISA KEVNo

Affected5 vendor(s)

PublishedSep 6, 2019

Related CVEs (CWE-648)

CVE-2019-1010178

Recommended Actions

→Apply vendor patches immediately
→Monitor CVE-2019-14813 in threat intel feeds
→Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts

Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.

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