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CVE Record

CVE-2020-16303: A use-after-free vulnerability in xps_finish_image_path() in devices/vector/gdevxps.c of Artifex Software G...

A use-after-free vulnerability in xps_finish_image_path() in devices/vector/gdevxps.c of Artifex Software GhostScript v9.50 allows a remote attacker to escalate privileges via a crafted PDF file. This is fixed in v9.51.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2020-16303 is a memory-safety flaw in Artifex Ghostscript 9.50. A crafted PDF could trigger use-after-free behavior and is described as allowing privilege escalation. Organizations should prioritize systems that automatically process PDFs, especially mail, upload, print, or document conversion paths.

Executive priority

Treat as priority remediation for document-processing systems. Business risk is highest where external PDFs are automatically handled, because exploitation depends on delivering a crafted file to a vulnerable Ghostscript path.

Technical view

The issue is a use-after-free in xps_finish_image_path() in devices/vector/gdevxps.c. The CVE source states Ghostscript v9.50 is affected and v9.51 fixes it. Debian, Ubuntu, and Gentoo published Ghostscript security updates. No CVSS vector is provided in the bundle.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely where Ghostscript 9.50 or vulnerable downstream packages process PDFs from untrusted users or external sources. The bundle does not enumerate all affected packages or integrations, so asset discovery should include embedded Ghostscript use.

Exploitation context

The supplied sources describe attack via a crafted PDF file, but do not provide evidence of active exploitation. CISA KEV status is false in the bundle, so do not treat this as confirmed exploited based on these sources alone.

Researcher notes

The CVE evidence names the vulnerable function and fixed version, but the bundle lacks CVSS, CWE, and detailed exploitability notes. Focus research on reachability of Ghostscript 9.50 from untrusted PDF inputs and downstream package patch status.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade Ghostscript to v9.51 or later where vendor-supported.
  • Apply Debian, Ubuntu, Gentoo, or other distribution Ghostscript security updates.
  • Restrict automated processing of untrusted PDFs until patched.
  • Check vendor guidance for embedded or bundled Ghostscript copies.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Ghostscript versions on servers, desktops, containers, and document workflows.
  • Confirm installed packages include the relevant 2020 distro security updates.
  • Review upload, mail, print, and conversion services for Ghostscript invocation.
  • Verify vulnerable Ghostscript 9.50 is no longer reachable in production paths.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
8

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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CVE-2020-16303 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
7Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.