---
title: "CVE-2016-7978\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-2016-7978?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2016-7978

Publication date 6 October 2016

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**9.8 · Critical**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-7978?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

Use-after-free vulnerability in Ghostscript 9.20 might allow remote
attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors related to a reference leak
in .setdevice.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-7978?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ghostscript | 16.10 yakkety | Fixed 9.19~dfsg+1-0ubuntu6.2 |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 9.18~dfsg~0-0ubuntu2.2 |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 9.10~dfsg-0ubuntu10.5 |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Fixed 9.05~dfsg-0ubuntu4.4 |

---

* [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-2016-7978?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

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

reproducer in ghostscript bug report

### 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 | * Upstream:   <http://git.ghostscript.com/?p=user/chrisl/ghostpdl.git;h=d5ad1e0298e1c193087c824eb4f79628b182e28b> |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

9.8 · Critical

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Network |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | None |
  | User interaction | None |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | High |
  | Integrity impact | High |
  | Availability impact | High |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 9.8 · Critical |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-7978)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-7978)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2016-7978)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2016-7978)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-3148-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3148-1)
+ Ghostscript vulnerabilities
+ 2 December 2016

### Other references

* <http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/10/05/7>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-7978>