# CVE-2016-7978: Use after free in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via a use-after-free vulnerability in Ghostscript's .setdevice function.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 23 May 2017
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2016-7978, GHSA-jp8p-fj2v-5982, UBUNTU-CVE-2016-7978

## What is CVE-2016-7978?

CVE-2016-7978 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Artifex Ghostscript, published on 23 May 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Use-after-free vulnerability in Ghostscript 9.20 might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors related to a reference leak in .setdevice.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-7978?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Artifex Ghostscript.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-7978?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2016-7978 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-7978 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## 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-2016-7978 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-7978 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Artifex Ghostscript, published on 23 May 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2016-7978 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2016-7978/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7978/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-7978
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-7978
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-7978

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7978/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.