CVE-2024-46952

Memory corruption via unchecked XRef field widths

Published Nov 10, 2024 · Updated Nov 12, 2024

Buffer overflow in Artifex Software Ghostscript before 10.04.0 allows attackers to corrupt memory via a crafted PDF XRef stream. The PDF interpreter accepts W-array field widths beyond its supported limits while using a narrower field-width accumulator, allowing read_xref_stream_entries to overrun a buffer. Exploitation requires the crafted PDF to be opened or processed by an application that embeds or invokes Ghostscript, resulting in a process crash or memory corruption.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.32%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Buffer overflow in Artifex Software Ghostscript before 10.04.0 allows attackers to corrupt memory via a crafted PDF XRef stream. The PDF interpreter accepts W-array field widths beyond its supported limits while using a narrower field-width accumulator, allowing read_xref_stream_entries to overrun a buffer. Exploitation requires the crafted PDF to be opened or processed by an application that embeds or invokes Ghostscript, resulting in a process crash or memory corruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-46952
Published
Nov 10, 2024
Updated
Nov 12, 2024
Vendor
Artifex Software, Inc.
Product
Ghostscript
Classifications
CWE-120, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 10, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 12, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=10.04.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Artifex Software, Inc. · Ghostscriptversion=10.04.0

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.4CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/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.

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No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
T1204.002Malicious File

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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