CVE-2023-28879Public exploit

Code execution via escaped-character buffer overrun

Published Mar 31, 2023 · Updated Feb 14, 2025

Out-of-bounds write in Artifex Ghostscript 10.01.0 and earlier allows attackers to execute code via crafted PostScript input. The s_xBCPE_process routine in base/sbcp.c emits two bytes for an escaped character after checking space for only one, advancing pw->ptr beyond pw->limit. Exploitation requires an application or user to pass attacker-controlled PostScript to Ghostscript; demonstrated filter chaining corrupts stream state, disables the path sandbox, and invokes commands through the pipe device.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability6.34%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds write in Artifex Ghostscript 10.01.0 and earlier allows attackers to execute code via crafted PostScript input. The s_xBCPE_process routine in base/sbcp.c emits two bytes for an escaped character after checking space for only one, advancing pw->ptr beyond pw->limit. Exploitation requires an application or user to pass attacker-controlled PostScript to Ghostscript; demonstrated filter chaining corrupts stream state, disables the path sandbox, and invokes commands through the pipe device.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28879
Published
Mar 31, 2023
Updated
Feb 14, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-787, T1203
Attack vector
Unavailable
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 31, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 14, 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 vectorUnavailable in this record.
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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)
VectorUnavailable
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

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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