# What is CVE-2019-14813? > CVE-2019-14813 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) in Ghostscript from Artifex, published on 6 September 2019. It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 11%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix. Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2019-14813 ## At a glance - **Verdict:** Fix this soon. Not confirmed as exploited yet, but serious or likely enough that it should not wait for a quiet month. - **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 56 out of 100 (Medium); action: Plan remediation. Kept up to date as the evidence changes. - **Severity:** Critical (CVSS 9.8 out of 10) - **Known to be exploited:** No, not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today - **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 11% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast) - **Published:** 6 September 2019 - **Record last updated:** 7 November 2023 - **Main product:** Ghostscript from Artifex - **Affected products:** 12 ## What is CVE-2019-14813? In plain terms It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline. ### The 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. ### What kind of flaw is it? - CWE-863: Incorrect Authorization - CWE-648: Incorrect Use of Privileged APIs ### How an attack on it works - Where an attacker can be: Anywhere on the internet - How hard it is to pull off: Easy: no special conditions - Login needed first: No login needed - Does someone have to click: No, nobody has to do anything - What an attacker gets: Can read data, change data and take it offline Severity vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H` ## Is CVE-2019-14813 being exploited? Not that we know of It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 11%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching. Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 11%, 11%, 11%, 11%, 11%, 11%, 11%. ### Timeline - 6 September 2019: Published - 7 November 2023: Record last updated ### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it CVE-2019-14813 scores **56 out of 100 (Medium)**, with the action "Plan remediation". Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less: - Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor - How severe it is: strong factor - How widely exposed it is: smaller factor - Threat activity around it: smaller factor 85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it. ## Who is affected by CVE-2019-14813? The published record lists 12 products. - [Ghostscript](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/artifex/ghostscript) by [Artifex](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/artifex) (Application): 9.00 to 9.50 - [Debian Linux](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/debian/debian_linux) by [Debian](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/debian) (Operating system): 8.0, 9.0, 10.0 - [Fedora](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/fedoraproject/fedora) by [Fedoraproject](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/fedoraproject) (Operating system): 29, 30, 31 - [Enterprise Linux](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.0, 8.0 - [Leap](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/opensuse/leap) by [Opensuse](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/opensuse) (Operating system): 15.0, 15.1 - [Openshift Container Platform](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/openshift_container_platform) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Application): 3.11, 4.1 - [Enterprise Linux Desktop](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_desktop) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.0 - [Enterprise Linux Server](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_server) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.0 - [Enterprise Linux Server Aus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_server_aus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.7 - [Enterprise Linux Server Eus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_server_eus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.7 - [Enterprise Linux Server Tus](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_server_tus) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.7 - [Enterprise Linux Workstation](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/redhat/enterprise_linux_workstation) by [Red Hat](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/redhat) (Operating system): 7.0 ## How do I fix CVE-2019-14813? 1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list. 2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisory first in the list. 3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in. 4. **Keep an eye on it.** Track the product and we tell you as soon as we spot this flaw on the list of exploited flaws, or a jump in its exploit likelihood. ### References - [bugzilla.redhat.com](https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2019-14813) (Issue tracking, Patch, Third-party advisory) - [git.ghostscript.com](http://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=885444fcbe10dc42787ecb76686c8ee4dd33bf33) - [lists.opensuse.org](http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00088.html) (Mailing list, Third-party advisory) - [lists.opensuse.org](http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00090.html) (Mailing list, Third-party advisory) - [access.redhat.com](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:2824) (Third-party advisory) - [access.redhat.com](https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:2594) (Third-party advisory) - [lists.debian.org](https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/09/msg00007.html) (Mailing list, Third-party advisory) - [lists.fedoraproject.org](https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6AATIHU32MYKUOXQDJQU4X4DDVL7NAY3/) - [lists.fedoraproject.org](https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/LBUC4DBBJTRFNCR3IODBV4IXB2C2HI3V/) - [lists.fedoraproject.org](https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/ZP34D27RKYV2POJ3NJLSVCHUA5V5C45A/) - [seclists.org](https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Sep/15) (Mailing list, Third-party advisory) - [security.gentoo.org](https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202004-03) (Third-party advisory) - [debian.org](https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4518) (Third-party advisory) ## Questions ### What is CVE-2019-14813? CVE-2019-14813 is a critical-severity flaw in Ghostscript from Artifex, published on 6 September 2019. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in, and nobody has to click anything. If it works, the attacker can read data, change data and take it offline. ### How serious is CVE-2019-14813? It scores 9.8 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is critical. Our risk score for CVE-2019-14813 is 56 out of 100, which is Medium. Its action is "Plan remediation". Not confirmed as exploited yet, but serious or likely enough that it should not wait for a quiet month. ### Is CVE-2019-14813 being exploited? It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 11%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching. ### Which versions does CVE-2019-14813 affect? For Ghostscript from Artifex: 9.00 to 9.50. The record lists 12 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page. ### How do I fix CVE-2019-14813? Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet. ## Does CVE-2019-14813 affect you? Precursor Intelligence keeps checking for you: - **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website. - **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list. - **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it. - **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools. Start free (no card, nothing to install): https://www.precursorintelligence.com/register Book a demo: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/contact