CVE-2016-9601

What it is

ghostscript before version 9.21 is vulnerable to a heap based buffer overflow that was found in the ghostscript jbig2_decode_gray_scale_image function which is used to decode halftone segments in a JBIG2 image. A document (PostScript or PDF) with an embedded, specially crafted, jbig2 image could trigger a segmentation fault in ghostscript.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited over the network without logging in. Limited direct impact.

Exploit odds

1.7% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

No patch or advisory is linked yet. Look at mitigations or restrict exposure.

Timeline

1. 2018-04-24 01:29 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-06-17 00:56 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 1.7% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 5.3 MEDIUM (CVSS).
• Fix: none linked yet, which raises it.

Details

Published

2018-04-24 01:29 UTC

Last modified

2026-06-17 00:56 UTC

Exploit probability

1.7% · EPSS, next 30 days

Weakness

CWE-190 · Integer overflow

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Artifex Gpl Ghostscript < 9.21
• Artifex jbig2dec ≤ 0.13
• Debian Linux 8.0
• Debian Linux 9.0

Attack profile CVSS 3.0 · 5.3

Attack vector

Network

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

None

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

None

Availability

Low

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2016-9601.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2016-9601. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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