# CVE-2018-16585: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can cause memory corruption and potential code execution by supplying crafted PostScript files to Ghostscript.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/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:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 6 Sep 2018
- **Updated:** 14 Nov 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2018-16585, GHSA-4j37-xf23-h2px, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-16585

## What is CVE-2018-16585?

CVE-2018-16585 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Artifex Ghostscript, published on 6 Sep 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

An issue was discovered in Artifex Ghostscript before 9.24. The .setdistillerkeys PostScript command is accepted even though it is not intended for use during document processing (e.g., after the startup phase). This leads to memory corruption, allowing remote attackers able to supply crafted PostScript to crash the interpreter or possibly have unspecified other impact. Note: A reputable source believes that the CVE is potentially a duplicate of CVE-2018-15910 as explained in Red Hat bugzilla (https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1626193)

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-16585?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Artifex Ghostscript, Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-16585?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2018-16585 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-16585 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-2018-16585 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-16585 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Artifex Ghostscript, published on 6 Sep 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-16585 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-2018-16585/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-16585/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-16585
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-16585
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-16585

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-16585/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.