---
title: "CVE-2010-2055\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2010-2055?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2010-2055

Publication date 22 July 2010

Last updated 24 July 2024

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

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## Description

Ghostscript 8.71 and earlier reads initialization files from the current
working directory, which allows local users to execute arbitrary PostScript
commands via a Trojan horse file, related to improper support for the -P-
option to the gs program, as demonstrated using gs\_init.ps, a different
vulnerability than CVE-2010-4820.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2010-2055?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ghostscript | 11.04 natty | Not affected |
| 10.10 maverick | Ignored |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Ignored |
| 9.10 karmic | Ignored end of life |
| 9.04 jaunty | Ignored end of life |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Ignored |
| 6.06 LTS dapper | Not in release |
| gs-afpl | 11.04 natty | Not in release |
| 10.10 maverick | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| 9.10 karmic | Not in release |
| 9.04 jaunty | Not in release |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| 6.06 LTS dapper | Ignored end of life |
| gs-esp | 11.04 natty | Not in release |
| 10.10 maverick | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| 9.10 karmic | Not in release |
| 9.04 jaunty | Not in release |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| 6.06 LTS dapper | Ignored end of life |
| gs-gpl | 11.04 natty | Not in release |
| 10.10 maverick | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not in release |
| 9.10 karmic | Not in release |
| 9.04 jaunty | Not in release |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| 6.06 LTS dapper | Ignored end of life |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2010-2055?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

### [mdeslaur](https://launchpad.net/~mdeslaur)

There are three different issues here:
1- -P is the default, and not -P-
2- -P- doesn't actually work
3- ghostscript's scripts don't use -P-
Fixing this will change the default behaviour, and may introduce
regressions in software in the archive, and custom software.
Since this is primarily a user-assisted attack, the risks of
fixing this outweighs the advantages. Marking as ignored for
affected releases.

### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| ghostscript | * Other:   <http://mentors.debian.net/debian/pool/main/g/ghostscript/> |

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2010-2055)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-2055)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2010-2055)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2010-2055)

### Other references

* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2010-2055>