CVE-2020-36773Network attack vector

Memory corruption via multi-code-point txtwrite mapping

Published Feb 4, 2024 · Updated May 22, 2025

Memory corruption in Artifex Ghostscript before 9.53.0 allows context-dependent attackers to crash its process via a crafted PDF. The txtwrite device in devices/vector/gdevtxtw.c mishandles a character whose mapping expands to multiple Unicode code points, causing an out-of-bounds write and use-after-free. The crafted PDF must be processed with txtwrite; the bounded documented consequence is Ghostscript process memory corruption and termination.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.88%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory corruption in Artifex Ghostscript before 9.53.0 allows context-dependent attackers to crash its process via a crafted PDF. The txtwrite device in devices/vector/gdevtxtw.c mishandles a character whose mapping expands to multiple Unicode code points, causing an out-of-bounds write and use-after-free. The crafted PDF must be processed with txtwrite; the bounded documented consequence is Ghostscript process memory corruption and termination.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-36773
Published
Feb 4, 2024
Updated
May 22, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-416, CWE-787
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 4, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 22, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.1SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
9.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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