# CVE-2023-38559: Ghostscript: out-of-bound read in base/gdevdevn.c:1973 in devn_pcx_write_rle could result in dos

Status: published. Published: 2023-08-01. Updated: 2026-11-07.

A buffer overflow flaw was found in base/gdevdevn.c:1973 in devn_pcx_write_rle() in ghostscript. This issue may allow a local attacker to cause a denial of service via outputting a crafted PDF file for a DEVN device with gs.

## Remediation

No remediation reported in collected sources

## Affected products and versions

- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (ghostscript): ≥ 0:9.27-11.el8; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 (ghostscript): ≥ 0:9.54.0-13.el9; < * (unaffected, rpm). Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 (ghostscript): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 (ghostscript): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat
- Red Hat / Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (gimp:flatpak/ghostscript): Version range not reported. Source: CNA: redhat

## Severity and prioritization

- CVSS 3.1: 5.5 (medium); CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H; source: CNA: redhat

- CISA KEV: No listing in collected sources

- EPSS: 0.43% as of 2026-11-06; percentile 37.97%

- SSVC: exploitation none; automatable no; technical impact partial; source ADP: CISA-ADP

- Weaknesses: CWE-125

## Exploit evidence

No exploit evidence in collected sources. This is not proof of no exploitation.

## References

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:6544 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7053 (CNA: redhat; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-38559 (CNA: redhat; vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://bugs.ghostscript.com/show_bug.cgi?id=706897 (CNA: redhat)

- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2224367 (CNA: redhat; issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT)

- https://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git;a=commitdiff;h=d81b82c70bc1 (CNA: redhat)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:6544 (ADP: CVE; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT, x_transferred)

- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7053 (ADP: CVE; vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT, x_transferred)

- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-38559 (ADP: CVE; vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT, x_transferred)

- https://bugs.ghostscript.com/show_bug.cgi?id=706897 (ADP: CVE; x_transferred)

- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2224367 (ADP: CVE; issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT, x_transferred)

- https://git.ghostscript.com/?p=ghostpdl.git;a=commitdiff;h=d81b82c70bc1 (ADP: CVE; x_transferred)

- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/08/msg00006.html (ADP: CVE; x_transferred)

- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/GBV6BTUREXM6DB3OGHGLMWGAZ3I45TXE/ (ADP: CVE; x_transferred)

- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/QH7ERAYSSXEYDWWY7LOV7CA5MIDZN3Z6/ (ADP: CVE; x_transferred)

## Provenance

- CNA: redhat: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-38559; retrieved 2026-11-07; source updated 2026-11-07

- FIRST EPSS: https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2023-38559; retrieved 2026-11-07; source updated Not reported

Revision: eda35357c8f08be4b08cd4b4a9272bd2fe9da1eab50cfef8753a6825e8788ab4

Canonical: https://y2.dev/cve/CVE-2023-38559

## Agent and API access

Public CVE pages, Markdown, and JSON are free to read without an account or API key.

- Public catalog: https://y2.dev/cve/index.json. Follow nextCursor with the same search, filters, sort, and limit (1–100). A null cursor marks the end.

- WebMCP: search_cve_disclosures, get_cve_disclosure, get_cve_page_markdown, get_y2_cve_access. Available in compatible browsers.

- Cyber API: https://api.y2.dev/api/v2/cyber/cves and https://api.y2.dev/api/v2/cyber/cves/{cveId}.

- Y2 Pro or Elite: create a workspace API key with the intel:cyber scope and send Authorization: Bearer <Y2_API_KEY>. Setup: https://y2.dev/docs/api/create-key.

- x402: Pay per request without an account or API key. Omit Authorization, read the HTTP 402 PAYMENT-REQUIRED challenge, validate its current requirements, and retry with PAYMENT-SIGNATURE through an authorized payment client. These browser tools never make payments. Guide: https://y2.dev/docs/api/x402.

- OpenAPI: https://y2.dev/api/openapi.yaml. Agent access metadata: https://y2.dev/cve/agent.json.

Collected public records only. Check source status for coverage and freshness.