CVE-2024-46954

Path traversal via overlong UTF-8 decoding

Published Nov 10, 2024 · Updated Nov 12, 2024

Path traversal in Artifex Software Ghostscript before 10.04.0 allows local users to escape a restricted directory via crafted UTF-8. The decode_utf8 routine in base/gp_utf8.c accepts noncanonical multibyte encodings of path characters, allowing encoded ../ sequences to bypass path checks. Exploitation requires attacker-controlled path text to reach Ghostscript and permits path resolution outside the intended directory boundary.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.55%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in Artifex Software Ghostscript before 10.04.0 allows local users to escape a restricted directory via crafted UTF-8. The decode_utf8 routine in base/gp_utf8.c accepts noncanonical multibyte encodings of path characters, allowing encoded ../ sequences to bypass path checks. Exploitation requires attacker-controlled path text to reach Ghostscript and permits path resolution outside the intended directory boundary.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-46954
Published
Nov 10, 2024
Updated
Nov 12, 2024
Vendor
Artifex Software, Inc.
Product
Ghostscript
Classifications
CWE-22
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?

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  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

8.4CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:L/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.

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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-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')

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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