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CVE-2021-45944

Ghostscript GhostPDL 9.50 through 9.53.3 has a use-after-free in sampled_data_sample (called from...

5.5 MediumFix available

Ghostscript GhostPDL 9.50 through 9.53.3 has a use-after-free in sampled_data_sample (called from sampled_data_continue and interp).

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
None
User interaction
Required

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

1.46%Up 0.8 points since Jan 1, 2022
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

NVD Score used 5.5

Ghostscript GhostPDL 9.50 through 9.53.3 has a use-after-free in sampled_data_sample (called from sampled_data_continue and interp).

Record
CVE-2021-45944
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CVSS 2.0
4.3 MediumAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
Weakness
CWE-416
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE List No score

Ghostscript GhostPDL 9.50 through 9.53.3 has a use-after-free in sampled_data_sample (called from sampled_data_continue and interp).

Record
CVE-2021-45944
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-32652 No score

Ghostscript GhostPDL 9.50 through 9.53.3 has a use-after-free in sampled_data_sample (called from sampled_data_continue and interp).

Record
EUVD-2021-32652
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-9mw4-q4wg-7hwh No score

Ghostscript GhostPDL 9.50 through 9.53.3 has a use-after-free in sampled_data_sample (called from...

Ghostscript GhostPDL 9.50 through 9.53.3 has a use-after-free in sampled_data_sample (called from sampled_data_continue and interp).

Record
GHSA-9mw4-q4wg-7hwh
Weakness
CWE-416
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVBELL-CVE-2021-45944 5.5

CVE-2021-45944 does not affect BellSoft software

Record
BELL-CVE-2021-45944
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 5.5

Ghostscript GhostPDL 9.50 through 9.53.3 has a use-after-free in sampled_data_sample (called from sampled_data_continue and interp).

Record
CVE-2021-45944
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 12 moreShow less
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2021-45944 5.5

Ghostscript GhostPDL 9.50 through 9.53.3 has a use-after-free in sampled_data_sample (called from sampled_data_continue and interp).

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2021-45944
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVOESA-2022-1487 5.5

ghostscript security update

Ghostscript is an interpreter for PostScript and Portable Document Format (PDF) files. Ghostscript consists of a PostScript interpreter layer, and a graphics library.

Security Fix(es):

Ghostscript GhostPDL 9.50 through 9.54.0 has a heap-based buffer overflow in sampled_data_finish (called from sampled_data_continue and interp).(CVE-2021-45949)

Ghostscript GhostPDL 9.50 through 9.53.3 has a use-after-free in sampled_data_sample (called from sampled_data_continue and interp).(CVE-2021-45944)

Record
OESA-2022-1487
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2021-45944 5.5

Ghostscript GhostPDL 9.50 through 9.53.3 has a use-after-free in sampled_data_sample (called from sampled_data_continue and interp).

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2021-45944
CVSS 3.1
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVMGASA-2022-0012 No score

Updated ghostscript packages fix security vulnerability

Use-after-free in sampled_data_sample (called from sampled_data_continue and interp). (CVE-2021-45944) Heap-based buffer overflow in sampled_data_finish (called from sampled_data_continue and interp). (CVE-2021-45949)

Record
MGASA-2022-0012
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2022:0088-1 No score

Security update for ghostscript

This update for ghostscript fixes the following issues:

  • CVE-2021-45944: Fixed use-after-free in sampled_data_sample (bsc#1194303)
  • CVE-2021-45949: Fixed heap-based buffer overflow in sampled_data_finish (bsc#1194304)
Record
openSUSE-SU-2022:0088-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:11744-1 No score

ghostscript-9.54.0-3.1 on GA media

These are all security issues fixed in the ghostscript-9.54.0-3.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:11744-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2022:0081-1 No score

Security update for ghostscript

This update for ghostscript fixes the following issues:

  • CVE-2021-45944: Fixed use-after-free in sampled_data_sample (bsc#1194303)
  • CVE-2021-45949: Fixed heap-based buffer overflow in sampled_data_finish (bsc#1194304)
Record
SUSE-SU-2022:0081-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2022:0088-1 No score

Security update for ghostscript

This update for ghostscript fixes the following issues:

  • CVE-2021-45944: Fixed use-after-free in sampled_data_sample (bsc#1194303)
  • CVE-2021-45949: Fixed heap-based buffer overflow in sampled_data_finish (bsc#1194304)
Record
SUSE-SU-2022:0088-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2022:0088-2 No score

Security update for ghostscript

This update for ghostscript fixes the following issues:

  • CVE-2021-45944: Fixed use-after-free in sampled_data_sample (bsc#1194303)
  • CVE-2021-45949: Fixed heap-based buffer overflow in sampled_data_finish (bsc#1194304)
Record
SUSE-SU-2022:0088-2
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2022:0088-3 No score

Security update for ghostscript

This update for ghostscript fixes the following issues:

  • CVE-2021-45944: Fixed use-after-free in sampled_data_sample (bsc#1194303)
  • CVE-2021-45949: Fixed heap-based buffer overflow in sampled_data_finish (bsc#1194304)
Record
SUSE-SU-2022:0088-3
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-5224-1 No score

ghostscript vulnerabilities

It was discovered that Ghostscript incorrectly handled certain PostScript files. If a user or automated system were tricked into processing a specially crafted file, a remote attacker could possibly use this issue to cause Ghostscript to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code.

Record
USN-5224-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-5224-2 No score

ghostscript vulnerabilities

USN-5224-1 fixed several vulnerabilities in Ghostscript. This update provides the corresponding update for Ubuntu 16.04 ESM.

Original advisory details:

It was discovered that Ghostscript incorrectly handled certain PostScript files. If a user or automated system were tricked into processing a specially crafted file, a remote attacker could possibly use this issue to cause Ghostscript to crash, resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code.

Record
USN-5224-2
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
ghostscript
Debian:12
 before 9.54.0~dfsg-5
9.54.0~dfsg-5
ghostscript
Debian:13
 before 9.54.0~dfsg-5
9.54.0~dfsg-5
ghostscript
Debian:14
 before 9.54.0~dfsg-5
9.54.0~dfsg-5
ghostscript
Debian:9
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.26a~dfsg-0+deb9u8, plus listed versions
9.20~dfsg-3.29.20~dfsg-3.2+deb9u19.20~dfsg-3.2+deb9u29.20~dfsg-3.2+deb9u39.20~dfsg-3.2+deb9u4
Show 30 moreShow less
9.20~dfsg-3.2+deb9u59.21~dfsg-19.21~dfsg-1~exp19.22~dfsg-19.22~dfsg-29.22~dfsg-2.19.22~dfsg-2~riscv649.22~dfsg-39.22~~rc1~dfsg-19.24~~rc2~dfsg-19.25~dfsg-0+deb9u19.25~dfsg-19.25~dfsg-1~exp19.25~dfsg-29.25~dfsg-39.25~dfsg-49.25~dfsg-59.25~dfsg-69.25~dfsg-79.26a~dfsg-0+deb9u19.26a~dfsg-0+deb9u29.26a~dfsg-0+deb9u39.26a~dfsg-0+deb9u49.26a~dfsg-0+deb9u59.26a~dfsg-0+deb9u69.26a~dfsg-0+deb9u79.26~dfsg-0+deb9u19.26~dfsg-0+deb9u29.26~dfsg-19.26~dfsg-2
9.26a~dfsg-0+deb9u8
ghostscript
Debian:10
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.27~dfsg-2+deb10u5, plus listed versions
9.27~dfsg-29.27~dfsg-2+deb10u19.27~dfsg-2+deb10u29.27~dfsg-2+deb10u39.27~dfsg-2+deb10u4
9.27~dfsg-2+deb10u5
ghostscript
Debian:11
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.53.3~dfsg-7+deb11u2, plus listed versions
9.53.3~dfsg-79.53.3~dfsg-7+deb11u1
9.53.3~dfsg-7+deb11u2
ghostscript
Mageia:8
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.53.3-2.2.mga8
9.53.3-2.2.mga8
ghostscript
openEuler:20.03-LTS-SP1
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.52-5.oe1
9.52-5.oe1
ghostscript
openEuler:20.03-LTS-SP2
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.52-6.oe1
9.52-6.oe1
ghostscript
openEuler:20.03-LTS-SP3
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.52-6.oe1
9.52-6.oe1
Show 22 moreShow less
Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
ghostscript
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP5
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.52-23.48.1
9.52-23.48.1
ghostscript
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.52-23.48.1
9.52-23.48.1
ghostscript
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP5
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.52-23.48.1
9.52-23.48.1
ghostscript
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP3
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.52-161.1
9.52-161.1
ghostscript
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP2
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.52-161.1
9.52-161.1
ghostscript
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-LTSS
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.52-161.1
9.52-161.1
ghostscript
SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-LTSS
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.52-161.1
9.52-161.1
ghostscript
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.52-161.1
9.52-161.1
ghostscript
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-LTSS
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.52-161.1
9.52-161.1
ghostscript
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP1
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.52-161.1
9.52-161.1
ghostscript
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP2
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.52-161.1
9.52-161.1
ghostscript
SUSE:Enterprise Storage 6
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.52-161.1
9.52-161.1
ghostscript
SUSE:Enterprise Storage 7
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.52-161.1
9.52-161.1
ghostscript
Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS
 before 9.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.14+esm1, plus listed versions
9.16~dfsg~0-0ubuntu39.16~dfsg~0-0ubuntu49.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu19.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu29.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu2.2
Show 22 moreShow less
9.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu2.39.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu2.49.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu2.69.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu2.79.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu2.89.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu2.99.25~dfsg+1-0ubuntu0.16.04.19.25~dfsg+1-0ubuntu0.16.04.29.25~dfsg+1-0ubuntu0.16.04.39.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.19.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.39.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.49.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.59.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.69.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.79.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.89.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.99.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.109.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.119.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.129.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.139.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.14
9.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.14+esm1
ghostscript
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
 before 9.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.15, plus listed versions
9.21~dfsg+1-0ubuntu39.22~dfsg+1-0ubuntu19.22~dfsg+1-0ubuntu1.19.22~dfsg+1-0ubuntu1.29.25~dfsg+1-0ubuntu0.18.04.1
Show 14 moreShow less
9.25~dfsg+1-0ubuntu0.18.04.29.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.19.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.39.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.49.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.59.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.69.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.79.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.89.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.99.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.109.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.119.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.129.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.139.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.14
9.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.15
ghostscript
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS
 before 9.50~dfsg-5ubuntu4.5, plus listed versions
9.27~dfsg+0-0ubuntu39.27~dfsg+0-0ubuntu49.50~dfsg-5ubuntu19.50~dfsg-5ubuntu29.50~dfsg-5ubuntu3
Show 5 moreShow less
9.50~dfsg-5ubuntu49.50~dfsg-5ubuntu4.19.50~dfsg-5ubuntu4.29.50~dfsg-5ubuntu4.39.50~dfsg-5ubuntu4.4
9.50~dfsg-5ubuntu4.5
ghostscript
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.15, plus listed versions
9.21~dfsg+1-0ubuntu39.22~dfsg+1-0ubuntu19.22~dfsg+1-0ubuntu1.19.22~dfsg+1-0ubuntu1.29.25~dfsg+1-0ubuntu0.18.04.1
Show 14 moreShow less
9.25~dfsg+1-0ubuntu0.18.04.29.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.19.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.39.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.49.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.59.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.69.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.79.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.89.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.99.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.109.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.119.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.129.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.139.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.14
9.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.18.04.15
ghostscript
Ubuntu:20.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.50~dfsg-5ubuntu4.5, plus listed versions
9.27~dfsg+0-0ubuntu39.27~dfsg+0-0ubuntu49.50~dfsg-5ubuntu19.50~dfsg-5ubuntu29.50~dfsg-5ubuntu3
Show 5 moreShow less
9.50~dfsg-5ubuntu49.50~dfsg-5ubuntu4.19.50~dfsg-5ubuntu4.29.50~dfsg-5ubuntu4.39.50~dfsg-5ubuntu4.4
9.50~dfsg-5ubuntu4.5
ghostscript
Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.14+esm1, plus listed versions
9.16~dfsg~0-0ubuntu39.16~dfsg~0-0ubuntu49.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu19.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu29.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu2.2
Show 22 moreShow less
9.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu2.39.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu2.49.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu2.69.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu2.79.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu2.89.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu2.99.25~dfsg+1-0ubuntu0.16.04.19.25~dfsg+1-0ubuntu0.16.04.29.25~dfsg+1-0ubuntu0.16.04.39.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.19.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.39.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.49.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.59.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.69.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.79.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.89.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.99.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.109.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.119.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.129.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.139.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.14
9.26~dfsg+0-0ubuntu0.16.04.14+esm1
htmldoc
SUSE:Package Hub 12 SP1
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 1.8.28-9.1
1.8.28-9.1
ghostscript
openSUSE:Leap 15.3
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.52-161.1
9.52-161.1
ghostscript
openSUSE:Tumbleweed
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 9.54.0-3.1
9.54.0-3.1

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected, facts
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2021-45944 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.5) in Artifex Ghostscript, published December 31, 2021. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.46%, the 73rd percentile. Fixed in ghostscript 9.54.0~dfsg-5.

References

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