CVE-2019-14869

Name: CVE-2019-14869
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2019-11-15T12:15:10.603+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

HIGHCVSS 8.8/10EPSS 3.43%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2019-14869 is a high-severity vulnerability rated 8.8/10 on the CVSS scale. A flaw was found in all versions of ghostscript 9.x before 9.50, where the `.charkeys` procedure, where it did not properly secure its privileged calls, enabling scripts to bypass `-dSAFER` restrictions. An attacker could abuse this flaw by creating a specially crafted PostScript file that could escalate privileges within the Ghostscript and access files outside of restricted areas or execute commands.. EPSS estimates a 3.43% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

A flaw was found in all versions of ghostscript 9.x before 9.50, where the `.charkeys` procedure, where it did not properly secure its privileged calls, enabling scripts to bypass `-dSAFER` restrictions. An attacker could abuse this flaw by creating a specially crafted PostScript file that could escalate privileges within the Ghostscript and access files outside of restricted areas or execute commands.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

8.8/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS Probability

3.43%

87.4th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Artifex	Ghostscript	>= 9.00, < 9.50
Fedoraproject	Fedora	29
Fedoraproject	Fedora	30
Fedoraproject	Fedora	31
Opensuse	Leap	15.0
Opensuse	Leap	15.1

References

http://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN52486659/index.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-11/msg00049.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-11/msg00050.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/11/15/1Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0222Third Party Advisory
https://bugs.ghostscript.com/show_bug.cgi?id=701841Permissions Required
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2019-14869Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
https://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=485904772c5f
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/2Q4E3OTDAJRSUCOBTDQO7Y5UTE2FFMLF/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/HC4REO73BEJOJAU7NHFHJECAUAYJUE3H/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/IX55AEDERTDFEZAROKZW64MZRPLINEGI/
https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Nov/27Issue Tracking, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN52486659/index.htmlThird Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-11/msg00049.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-11/msg00050.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/11/15/1Mailing List, Patch, Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2020:0222Third Party Advisory
https://bugs.ghostscript.com/show_bug.cgi?id=701841Permissions Required
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2019-14869Issue Tracking, Patch, Third Party Advisory
https://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=485904772c5f
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/2Q4E3OTDAJRSUCOBTDQO7Y5UTE2FFMLF/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/HC4REO73BEJOJAU7NHFHJECAUAYJUE3H/
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/IX55AEDERTDFEZAROKZW64MZRPLINEGI/
https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Nov/27Issue Tracking, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Nov 15, 2019
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2019-14869?

How severe is CVE-2019-14869?

CVE-2019-14869 has a CVSS score of 8.8/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 3.43% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2019-14869?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2019-14869?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST