CVE-2023-38560 is an integer overflow vulnerability identified in the Ghostscript software component included in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6. The flaw exists in the pcl/pl/plfont.c source file, specifically at line 418 within the pl_glyph_name function. This function processes PCL (Printer Command Language) files during their transformation into PDF format. The integer overflow or wraparound can occur when handling crafted PCL files, leading to improper memory handling. This vulnerability can be exploited by a local attacker who has the ability to submit a maliciously crafted PCL file for conversion. Exploitation results in a denial of service (DoS) condition by crashing the Ghostscript process, thereby disrupting printing or document conversion services. The vulnerability does not allow for privilege escalation, data leakage, or code execution, but it impacts availability. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H) indicates that the attack requires local access and user interaction but has low complexity and no privileges required. No public exploits or active exploitation have been reported to date. The vulnerability affects legacy Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 systems, which may still be in use in some environments due to long-term support or legacy application dependencies.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2023-38560 is the potential disruption of printing and document conversion workflows that rely on Ghostscript within Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 environments. This can lead to denial of service conditions affecting operational continuity, especially in sectors such as government, finance, healthcare, and manufacturing where document processing is critical. Although the vulnerability does not compromise confidentiality or integrity, the availability impact can cause delays, reduce productivity, and potentially interrupt business-critical processes. Organizations using legacy systems or those that have not migrated from Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 are particularly vulnerable. The requirement for local access and user interaction limits remote exploitation but insider threats or compromised endpoints could leverage this flaw. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits in the future.

To mitigate CVE-2023-38560, organizations should prioritize applying any available patches or updates from Red Hat that address this vulnerability in Ghostscript. If patches are not immediately available, consider disabling or restricting the use of PCL to PDF conversion functionalities in Ghostscript where feasible. Limit local access to systems running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 to trusted users only, and enforce strict user privilege management to reduce the risk of exploitation. Implement monitoring and alerting for abnormal Ghostscript process crashes or unusual printing service disruptions to detect potential exploitation attempts early. Additionally, consider migrating legacy systems to supported Red Hat Enterprise Linux versions or alternative platforms with maintained security updates. Conduct regular security audits and user training to minimize risks associated with local user interaction requirements.