Heap-based buffer overflow in the big2_decode_symbol_dict function (jbig2_symbol_dict.c) in the JBIG2 decoding library (jbig2dec) in Ghostscript 8.64, and probably earlier versions, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a PDF file with a JBIG2 symbol dictionary segment with a large run length value.
Conclusion & alert: CVE-2009-0196 is rated High Exploit Risk (82.1/100): CVSS Critical severity, with high exploitation likelihood (EPSS 9.53%, 93th percentile). Core evidence: 2 public exploit reference(s) are indexed (Exploit-DB). Mandatory action: Public exploits are available—assess exposure, apply mitigations, and prioritize patching.
Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.
| EDB-ID | Source | Kind | Published | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | nvd_ref | exploit_tag | Exploit-DB ↗ | |
| — | nvd_ref | exploit_tag | Exploit-DB ↗ |
EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).
| # | Date | Old EPSS score | New EPSS score | Delta (New - Old) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2026-06-06 | 12.16% | 9.53% | -2.64% |
| 2 | 2025-03-30 | 9.70% | 12.16% | +2.46% |
| 3 | 2025-03-29 | — | 9.70% | — |
Full EPSS history (10 records total)
CVSS metrics for this CVE.
| Base score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability | Impact | Score source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.3 | 2.0 | HIGH |
|
8.6 | 10.0 | [email protected] |
| vendor | priority | summary | link |
|---|---|---|---|
debian
|
medium | CVE-2009-0196 medium priority: Debian including 2 source packages (ghostscript, jbig2dec), 10 status rows across 5 suites (bookworm, bullseye, forky, sid, trixie): resolved 10. | https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2009-0196 |
gentoo
|
normal | CVE-2009-0196: 1 GLSA(s) (201412-17), 1 atom(s) (app-text/ghostscript-gpl); latest impact normal. | https://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?quicksearch=CVE-2009-0196 |
redhat
|
medium | — | https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2009-0196 |
ubuntu
|
medium | CVE-2009-0196 medium priority: Ubuntu including 4 source packages (ghostscript, gs-afpl, gs-esp, gs-gpl), 28 status rows across 7 suites (dapper, gutsy, hardy, intrepid, jaunty, karmic, upstream): DNE 16, released 6, needs-triage 4, ignored 2. | https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2009-0196 |
| Vendor | Product | Version | Raw CPE |
|---|---|---|---|
| ghostscript | ghostscript | <= 8.64 | cpe:2.3:a:ghostscript:ghostscript:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| ghostscript | ghostscript | 0 | cpe:2.3:a:ghostscript:ghostscript:0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| ghostscript | ghostscript | 5.50 | cpe:2.3:a:ghostscript:ghostscript:5.50:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| ghostscript | ghostscript | 7.07 | cpe:2.3:a:ghostscript:ghostscript:7.07:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| ghostscript | ghostscript | 8.0.1 | cpe:2.3:a:ghostscript:ghostscript:8.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| ghostscript | ghostscript | 8.15 | cpe:2.3:a:ghostscript:ghostscript:8.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| ghostscript | ghostscript | 8.15.2 | cpe:2.3:a:ghostscript:ghostscript:8.15.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| ghostscript | ghostscript | 8.54 | cpe:2.3:a:ghostscript:ghostscript:8.54:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| ghostscript | ghostscript | 8.56 | cpe:2.3:a:ghostscript:ghostscript:8.56:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| ghostscript | ghostscript | 8.57 | cpe:2.3:a:ghostscript:ghostscript:8.57:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| ghostscript | ghostscript | 8.60 | cpe:2.3:a:ghostscript:ghostscript:8.60:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| ghostscript | ghostscript | 8.61 | cpe:2.3:a:ghostscript:ghostscript:8.61:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| ghostscript | ghostscript | 8.62 | cpe:2.3:a:ghostscript:ghostscript:8.62:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| ghostscript | ghostscript | 8.63 | cpe:2.3:a:ghostscript:ghostscript:8.63:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |