CVE-2017-8291: Artifex Ghostscript Type Confusion Vulnerability

Q: How do I fix CVE-2017-8291?

ghostscript: upgrade to 9.21; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; enterprise linux desktop: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2017-8291 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2017-8291 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

Q: What does CVE-2017-8291 affect?

CVE-2017-8291 affects ghostscript, debian linux, enterprise linux desktop. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). Artifex Ghostscript through 2017-04-26 allows -dSAFER bypass and remote command execution via .rsdparams type confusion with a "/OutputFile (%pipe%" substring in a crafted .eps document that is an input to the gs program, as exploited in th

Q: How urgent is CVE-2017-8291?

Priority 87/100. High severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Patch now

HIGH 7.8EXPLOITEDWATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2017-8291 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) affecting ghostscript, debian linux, enterprise linux desktop, reported as exploited in the wild. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Artifex Ghostscript through 2017-04-26 allows -dSAFER bypass and remote command execution via .rsdparams type confusion with a "/OutputFile (%pipe%" substring in a crafted .eps document that is an input to the gs program, as exploited in the wild in April 2017.

Why this priority

High severity
EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.8 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	97.0% (top 1%)
CISA exploited list	Yes, fix due 2022-06-14
Weakness	CWE-843
Published	2017-04-27
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: artifex · debian · redhat

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2017-04-27 01:59 UTCPublished CVE record published
2022-05-24Exploited Added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
2022-06-14Deadline CISA due date for US federal agencies to patch
2026-06-17 01:26 UTCUpdated Record last modified

artifex ghostscript UPGRADE

Affected: < 9.21

Fixed in: 9.21

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy ghostscript || rpm -q ghostscript || ghostscript --version

2. UPGRADE to 9.21 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade ghostscript

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade ghostscript

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 8.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

redhat enterprise linux desktop MITIGATE

Affected: 6.0 · 7.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

redhat enterprise linux eus MITIGATE

Affected: 7.3 · 7.4 · 7.5 · 7.6 · 7.7

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.3

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

redhat enterprise linux server MITIGATE

Affected: 6.0 · 7.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

redhat enterprise linux server aus MITIGATE

Affected: 7.3 · 7.4 · 7.6 · 7.7

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.3

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora 46 · perl-Net-IDN-Encode · FIXED · 2.600-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-84eff0ea64 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-84eff0ea64

Fedora ELN · libXISF · FIXED · 0.2.15-2.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-b9e2d1bda0 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-b9e2d1bda0

Debian 12 · ghostscript · FIXED · 9.20~dfsg-3.1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade ghostscript dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' ghostscript)" ge "9.20~dfsg-3.1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Debian 13 · ghostscript · FIXED · 9.20~dfsg-3.1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade ghostscript dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' ghostscript)" ge "9.20~dfsg-3.1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

RHEL 6 · ghostscript · FIXED · ghostscript-8.70-23.el6_9.2

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2017:1230 rpm -q ghostscript

RHEL 7 · ghostscript · FIXED · ghostscript-9.07-20.el7_3.5

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2017:1230 rpm -q ghostscript

RHEL 5 · ghostscript · DEFERRED

Alpine 3.20 · ghostscript · FIXED · ghostscript-9.21-r2

apk add --upgrade ghostscript apk info -v ghostscript

Alpine 3.21 · ghostscript · FIXED · ghostscript-9.21-r2

apk add --upgrade ghostscript apk info -v ghostscript

Alpine 3.22 · ghostscript · FIXED · ghostscript-9.21-r2

apk add --upgrade ghostscript apk info -v ghostscript

Alpine 3.23 · ghostscript · FIXED · ghostscript-9.21-r2

apk add --upgrade ghostscript apk info -v ghostscript

Amazon Linux 1 · see advisory · FIXED · ALAS-2017-837 · source

sudo yum update --advisory=ALAS-2017-837

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

GitHub PoC: hkcfs/PIL-CVE-2017-8291 (0 stars)
GitHub PoC: DaniilOrchikov/PIL-CVE-2017-8291 (0 stars)
Write-up: www.exploit-db.com/exploits/41955/
GitHub PoC: shun1403/CVE-2017-8291
Exploit-DB: Ghostscript 9.21 - Type Confusion Arbitrary Command Execution (Metasploit)
Metasploit: Ghostscript Type Confusion Arbitrary Command Execution

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · CISA KEV catalog · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2017-8291?

ghostscript: upgrade to 9.21; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; enterprise linux desktop: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2017-8291 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2017-8291 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

What does CVE-2017-8291 affect?

CVE-2017-8291 affects ghostscript, debian linux, enterprise linux desktop. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). Artifex Ghostscript through 2017-04-26 allows -dSAFER bypass and remote command execution via .rsdparams type confusion with a "/OutputFile (%pipe%" substring in a crafted .eps document that is an input to the gs program, as exploited in th

How urgent is CVE-2017-8291?

Priority 87/100. High severity; EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Debian vulnerabilities · Ghostscript vulnerabilities

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References

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