How severe is CVE-2009-4897?

CVE-2009-4897 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2009-4897 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 7% (93rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2009-4897?

CVE-2009-4897 primarily affects Artifex Afpl Ghostscript. In total, 31 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2009-4897?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2009-4897 published?

CVE-2009-4897 was published on 2010-07-22 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2009-4897

CVE-2009-4897 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Artifex Afpl Ghostscript with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-119.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 2.0 base score 9.3)
EPSS exploit prediction: 7% (93rd percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-119
Affected product: Artifex Afpl Ghostscript
Published: 2010-07-22
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Buffer overflow in gs/psi/iscan.c in Ghostscript 8.64 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted PDF document containing a long name.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-4897?: Buffer overflow in gs/psi/iscan.c in Ghostscript 8.64 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted PDF document containing a long name.
How severe is CVE-2009-4897?: CVE-2009-4897 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.
Is CVE-2009-4897 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 7% (93rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2009-4897?: CVE-2009-4897 primarily affects Artifex Afpl Ghostscript. In total, 31 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2009-4897?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2009-4897 published?: CVE-2009-4897 was published on 2010-07-22 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (31)

cpe:2.3:a:artifex:afpl_ghostscript:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:afpl_ghostscript:6.01:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:afpl_ghostscript:6.50:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:afpl_ghostscript:7.00:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:afpl_ghostscript:7.03:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:afpl_ghostscript:7.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:afpl_ghostscript:8.00:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:afpl_ghostscript:8.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:afpl_ghostscript:8.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:afpl_ghostscript:8.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:afpl_ghostscript:8.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:afpl_ghostscript:8.50:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:afpl_ghostscript:8.51:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:afpl_ghostscript:8.52:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:afpl_ghostscript:8.53:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:afpl_ghostscript:8.54:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:ghostscript_fonts:8.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:gpl_ghostscript:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:gpl_ghostscript:8.01:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:gpl_ghostscript:8.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:gpl_ghostscript:8.50:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:gpl_ghostscript:8.51:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:gpl_ghostscript:8.54:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:gpl_ghostscript:8.56:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:gpl_ghostscript:8.57:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:gpl_ghostscript:8.60:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:gpl_ghostscript:8.61:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:gpl_ghostscript:8.62:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:gpl_ghostscript:8.63:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:gpl_ghostscript:8.70:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:artifex:gpl_ghostscript:8.71:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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