# CVE-2019-6116: Code injection in n/a > Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via ephemeral procedures in Ghostscript, requiring immediate library upgrades. - **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/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:** 19 Mar 2019 - **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024 - **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2019-6116, DEBIAN-CVE-2019-6116, DLA-1670-1, DSA-4372-1, GHSA-6vrc-h32p-948x, MGASA-2019-0056, SUSE-SU-2019:0144-1, SUSE-SU-2019:0144-2, SUSE-SU-2019:0145-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2019-6116, USN-3866-1, openSUSE-SU-2019:0104-1 ## What is CVE-2019-6116? CVE-2019-6116 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Artifex Ghostscript, published on 19 Mar 2019. 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 In Artifex Ghostscript through 9.26, ephemeral or transient procedures can allow access to system operators, leading to remote code execution. ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-6116? It affects 11 products. | Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `ghostscript` | SUSE:Enterprise Storage 4 | All versions | 9.26a-23.19.1 | | `libspectre` | SUSE:Enterprise Storage 4 | All versions | 0.2.7-12.6.1 | | `ghostscript` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP3 | All versions | 9.26a-23.19.1 | | `libspectre` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP3 | All versions | 0.2.7-12.6.1 | | `ghostscript` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP4 | All versions | 9.26a-23.19.1 | | `libspectre` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP4 | All versions | 0.2.7-12.6.1 | | `ghostscript` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 | All versions | 9.26a-3.12.1 | | `libspectre` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Desktop Applications 15 | All versions | 0.2.8-3.6.1 | | `ghostscript` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1-LTSS | All versions | 9.26a-23.19.1 | | `libspectre` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1-LTSS | All versions | 0.2.7-12.6.1 | | `ghostscript` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2-BCL | All versions | 9.26a-23.19.1 | | `libspectre` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2-BCL | All versions | 0.2.7-12.6.1 | | `ghostscript` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2-LTSS | All versions | 9.26a-23.19.1 | | `libspectre` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2-LTSS | All versions | 0.2.7-12.6.1 | | `ghostscript` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3 | All versions | 9.26a-23.19.1 | | `libspectre` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3 | All versions | 0.2.7-12.6.1 | | `ghostscript` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4 | All versions | 9.26a-23.19.1 | | `libspectre` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4 | All versions | 0.2.7-12.6.1 | | `ghostscript` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12-LTSS | All versions | 9.26a-23.19.1 | | `libspectre` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12-LTSS | All versions | 0.2.7-12.6.1 | | `ghostscript` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP1 | All versions | 9.26a-23.19.1 | | `libspectre` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP1 | All versions | 0.2.7-12.6.1 | | `ghostscript` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP2 | All versions | 9.26a-23.19.1 | | `libspectre` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP2 | All versions | 0.2.7-12.6.1 | | `ghostscript` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3 | All versions | 9.26a-23.19.1 | | `libspectre` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3 | All versions | 0.2.7-12.6.1 | | `ghostscript` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP4 | All versions | 9.26a-23.19.1 | | `libspectre` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP4 | All versions | 0.2.7-12.6.1 | | `ghostscript` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP3 | All versions | 9.26a-23.19.1 | | `libspectre` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP3 | All versions | 0.2.7-12.6.1 | | `ghostscript` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP4 | All versions | 9.26a-23.19.1 | | `libspectre` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP4 | All versions | 0.2.7-12.6.1 | | `ghostscript` | SUSE:OpenStack Cloud 7 | All versions | 9.26a-23.19.1 | | `libspectre` | SUSE:OpenStack Cloud 7 | All versions | 0.2.7-12.6.1 | | `ghostscript` | openSUSE:Leap 15.0 | All versions | 9.26a-lp150.2.12.1 | | `ghostscript-mini` | openSUSE:Leap 15.0 | All versions | 9.26a-lp150.2.12.1 | Products: Artifex Ghostscript, Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Fedoraproject Fedora, Opensuse Leap, Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Eus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Tus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation. ## How do I fix CVE-2019-6116? Upgrade to a fixed version. ## Is CVE-2019-6116 being exploited? It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2019-6116 exists. Public exploit code: - Ghostscript 9.26 - Pseudo-Operator Remote Code Execution (exploitdb) ## 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-2019-6116 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2019-6116 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Artifex Ghostscript, published on 19 Mar 2019. 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: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2019-6116 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-2019-6116/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-6116/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-6116 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-6116 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-6116 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-6116/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.