CVE-2024-29509Network attack vector

Memory corruption via embedded-NUL password length mismatch

Published Jul 3, 2024 · Updated Mar 20, 2025

Heap-based buffer overflow in Artifex Ghostscript before 10.03.0 allows remote attackers to corrupt memory via a crafted PDF password. The R5 and R6 handlers in pdf/pdf_sec.c use strlen for a length-delimited PostScript password that can contain embedded NUL bytes. Exploitation requires Ghostscript to process attacker-controlled PDF content with the crafted PDFPassword value, resulting in process memory corruption or a crash.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.45%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap-based buffer overflow in Artifex Ghostscript before 10.03.0 allows remote attackers to corrupt memory via a crafted PDF password. The R5 and R6 handlers in pdf/pdf_sec.c use strlen for a length-delimited PostScript password that can contain embedded NUL bytes. Exploitation requires Ghostscript to process attacker-controlled PDF content with the crafted PDFPassword value, resulting in process memory corruption or a crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-29509
Published
Jul 3, 2024
Updated
Mar 20, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-787, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 3, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 20, 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

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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