---
title: "CVE-2017-9740\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-2017-9740?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2017-9740

Publication date 26 July 2017

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**7.8 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-9740?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

The xps\_decode\_font\_char\_imp function in xps/xpsfont.c in Artifex
Ghostscript GhostXPS 9.21 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of
service (heap-based buffer over-read and application crash) or possibly
have unspecified other impact via a crafted document.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2017-9740?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ghostscript | 17.04 zesty | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |

---

* [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-2017-9740?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

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

trusty and xenial hasn't xps code, so aren't affected
zesty and artful aren't affected, xps code is not compiled

### 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=ghostpdl.git;a=commit;h=961b10cdd71403072fb99401a45f3bef6ce53626> |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

7.8 · High

* Base metrics

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

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 7.8 · High |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

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

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2017-9740)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-9740)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2017-9740)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2017-9740)

### Other references

* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-9740>