---
title: "CVE-2022-2085\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-2022-2085?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2022-2085

Publication date 16 June 2022

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Low**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**5.5 · Medium**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2022-2085?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

A NULL pointer dereference vulnerability was found in Ghostscript, which
occurs when it tries to render a large number of bits in memory. When
allocating a buffer device, it relies on an init\_device\_procs defined for
the device that uses it as a prototype that depends upon the number of bits
per pixel. For bpp > 64, mem\_x\_device is used and does not have an
init\_device\_procs defined. This flaw allows an attacker to parse a large
number of bits (more than 64 bits per pixel), which triggers a NULL pointer
dereference flaw, causing an application to crash.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2022-2085?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ghostscript | 22.10 kinetic | Not affected |
| 22.04 LTS jammy | Fixed 9.55.0~dfsg1-0ubuntu5.1 |
| 21.10 impish | Ignored end of life |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Not affected |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |

---

* [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-2022-2085?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

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

code in focal and earlier doesn't look vulnerable to this issue

### 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:   <https://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git;h=ae1061d948d88667bdf51d47d918c4684d0f67df> |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

5.5 · Medium

* Base metrics

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

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 5.5 · Medium |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2022-2085)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-2085)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2022-2085)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2022-2085)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-5643-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-5643-1)
+ Ghostscript vulnerabilities
+ 27 September 2022

### Other references

* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-2085>