CVE-2021-3781

9.9 CRITICAL 84% exploit odds Drop everything Fix listed Code execution

What it is

A trivial sandbox (enabled with the `-dSAFER` option) escape flaw was found in the ghostscript interpreter by injecting a specially crafted pipe command. This flaw allows a specially crafted document to execute arbitrary commands on the system in the context of the ghostscript interpreter. The highest threat from this vulnerability is to confidentiality, integrity, as well as system availability.

At a glance

Exploitability: Can be exploited over the network with a low-privilege account. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.
Exploit odds: 83.9% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS). Higher than most.
Fix: A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

2021-09-09 00:00 UTC ReservedThe CVE id was reserved by its CNA
2022-02-16 19:15 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2026-06-17 04:05 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
Exploit odds: 83.9% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
Severity: 9.9 CRITICAL (CVSS).
Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.
It meets the bar for Drop everything: critical, and exploited or very likely to be.

Details

Published: 2022-02-16 19:15 UTC
Last modified: 2026-06-17 04:05 UTC
Exploit probability: 83.9% · EPSS, next 30 days
Weakness: CWE-20 · Improper input validation
Record status: Modified

Affected

Artifex Ghostscript 9.50
Artifex Ghostscript 9.52
Artifex Ghostscript 9.53.3
Artifex Ghostscript 9.54.0
Fedoraproject Fedora 34

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 9.9

Attack vector: Network
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: Low
User interaction: None
Scope: Changed
Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Raw vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

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-2021-3781.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2021-3781. 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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Fix and advisories

References

NVD record · CVE.org record