# OSV-2022-199: Stack-buffer-overflow in check_user_password_preR5

> A stack buffer overflow in the PDF decryption logic allows attackers to cause crashes or potentially execute code via malicious PDF files.

- **Severity:** Not scored
- **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:** No
- **Published:** 25 Feb 2022

## What is OSV-2022-199?

OSV-2022-199 is a memory corruption vulnerability in ghostscript, published on 25 Feb 2022. 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

OSS-Fuzz report: https://bugs.chromium.org/p/oss-fuzz/issues/detail?id=44983

```
Crash type: Stack-buffer-overflow READ {*}
Crash state:
check_user_password_preR5
pdfi_initialise_Decryption
pdfi_set_input_stream
```

## Which versions are affected by OSV-2022-199?

1 open source package ship an affected version, including ghostscript.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `ghostscript` | OSS-Fuzz | All versions | None |

## How do I fix OSV-2022-199?

No fix has been published for OSV-2022-199 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is OSV-2022-199 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of OSV-2022-199 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for OSV-2022-199 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: OSV-2022-199 is a memory corruption vulnerability in ghostscript, published on 25 Feb 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of OSV-2022-199 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- ghostscript (OSS-Fuzz): affected all versions; no fix listed

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/OSV-2022-199/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/OSV-2022-199/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/OSV-2022-199

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/OSV-2022-199/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.