# CVE-2016-7976: Code injection in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via crafted userparams in the Ghostscript PS Interpreter, requiring library upgrades.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 7 Aug 2017
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2016-7976, GHSA-9v96-pr6j-ghxc, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-7976

## What is CVE-2016-7976?

CVE-2016-7976 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Artifex Ghostscript, published on 7 Aug 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The PS Interpreter in Ghostscript 9.18 and 9.20 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted userparams.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-7976?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Artifex Ghostscript.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-7976?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2016-7976 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-7976 exists.

Public exploit code:

- ImageMagick Delegate Arbitrary Command Execution (metasploit)

## Other vulnerabilities in Artifex Ghostscript

- [CVE-2017-8291](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-8291/): Artifex Ghostscript Type Confusion (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-3781](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-3781/): Command injection in ghostscript (critical 9.9)
- [CVE-2025-27831](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-27831/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-27832](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-27832/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-27836](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-27836/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-7976 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-7976 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Artifex Ghostscript, published on 7 Aug 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-7976 exists.

Affected product: Artifex Ghostscript. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7976/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7976/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-7976
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-7976
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-7976

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7976/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.