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CVE Record

CVE-2020-27792: Ghostscript: heap buffer over write vulnerability in ghostscript's lp8000_print_page() in gdevlp8k.c

A heap-based buffer overwrite vulnerability was found in GhostScript's lp8000_print_page() function in the gdevlp8k.c file. This flaw allows an attacker to trick a user into opening a crafted PDF file, triggering the heap buffer overflow that could lead to memory corruption or a denial of service.

HighCVSS 7.1Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2020-27792 is a Ghostscript memory corruption flaw triggered when a user opens a crafted PDF. A successful attack could corrupt memory or cause denial of service, with high integrity and availability impact. The provided evidence does not show confirmed active exploitation.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation where Ghostscript handles untrusted PDFs or supports business-critical document workflows. The issue is high severity, but available evidence indicates user interaction is required and does not establish active exploitation.

Technical view

The flaw is a heap-based buffer overwrite in Ghostscript's lp8000_print_page() function in gdevlp8k.c, classified as CWE-119. CVSS 3.1 is 7.1 with local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, and required user interaction.

Likely exposure

Most relevant exposure is systems with Ghostscript installed that process PDFs, especially Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 with the listed ghostscript package. Red Hat lists RHEL 9 as unaffected and RHEL 6/7 status as unknown in the provided data.

Exploitation context

Exploitation requires tricking a user into opening a crafted PDF. The source bundle marks KEV as false and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation, so this should not be treated as known exploited based on available evidence.

Researcher notes

Focus analysis on the gdevlp8k.c lp8000_print_page() heap overwrite and vendor backports. Avoid assuming broad product impact beyond Ghostscript packages and the operating system statuses named in the source bundle.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply applicable vendor Ghostscript security updates from Red Hat or Debian guidance.
  • Restrict Ghostscript processing to trusted PDFs until systems are updated.
  • Isolate PDF conversion or printing workflows that process user-supplied files.
  • Check Red Hat guidance for RHEL 6 and 7 status before assuming exposure.
  • Track Ghostscript upstream fix references for package backport details.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory hosts with the ghostscript package installed.
  • Compare installed packages against vendor advisory status for each operating system.
  • Confirm whether any services automatically process uploaded or emailed PDFs.
  • Verify RHEL 8 systems have received the applicable RHSA update.
  • Document RHEL 6 and 7 uncertainty if vendor status remains unclear.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
6

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

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-119: Exact CWE lookup

Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2020-27792 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.1 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

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.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
8Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.1CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H1.85.2Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.1High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2020-27792Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 8ghostscript, 0:9.27-16.el8_10affected
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 6ghostscriptunknown
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 7ghostscriptunknown
Red HatRed Hat Enterprise Linux 9ghostscriptunaffected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-119

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