CVE-2018-10194 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Learn about CVE-2018-10194, a vulnerability in Artifex Ghostscript version 9.22 and earlier that allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted PDF document. Find mitigation steps and prevention measures here.
Artifex Ghostscript version 9.22 and earlier is vulnerable to a denial of service attack due to a flaw in the set_text_distance function. Attackers can exploit this issue by using a specially crafted PDF document.
Understanding CVE-2018-10194
This CVE entry describes a vulnerability in Artifex Ghostscript that could lead to a denial of service or other consequences when processing malicious PDF files.
What is CVE-2018-10194?
The vulnerability lies in the set_text_distance function within the pdfwrite component of Artifex Ghostscript version 9.22 and earlier. It fails to prevent overflows in text-positioning calculation, allowing remote attackers to exploit this weakness.
The Impact of CVE-2018-10194
The vulnerability could result in a denial of service (application crash) or potentially lead to other unspecified consequences when a specially crafted PDF document is processed.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-10194
Artifex Ghostscript version 9.22 and earlier are affected by this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The set_text_distance function in devices/vector/gdevpdts.c within the pdfwrite component of Artifex Ghostscript through version 9.22 does not prevent overflows in text-positioning calculation, enabling attackers to cause a denial of service or other impacts via a crafted PDF document.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Artifex Ghostscript
- Versions affected: 9.22 and earlier
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by creating a specifically crafted PDF document to trigger the overflow in text-positioning calculation, leading to a denial of service or other potential consequences.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2018-10194, users and administrators should take the following steps:
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Artifex Ghostscript to a non-vulnerable version.
- Avoid opening PDF files from untrusted or unknown sources.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and apply security patches.
- Implement network security measures to detect and block malicious PDF files.
Patching and Updates
Ensure that Artifex Ghostscript is regularly updated to the latest version to mitigate the risk of exploitation.