CVE-2025-27830 is a buffer overflow vulnerability identified in Artifex Ghostscript, a widely used interpreter for PostScript and PDF files. The vulnerability arises during the serialization process of the DollarBlend object within font handling code, specifically in the source files base/write_t1.c and psi/zfapi.c. This buffer overflow is classified under CWE-120, indicating a classic memory safety issue where unchecked data writes can overwrite adjacent memory. The flaw exists in versions of Ghostscript before 10.05.0, and it can be triggered when processing crafted font data embedded in PostScript or PDF documents. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.8 reflects a high severity, with an attack vector classified as local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but requiring user interaction (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H), meaning an attacker could execute arbitrary code, manipulate data, or cause denial of service. Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the common use of Ghostscript in document processing pipelines, print servers, and embedded systems. The absence of a patch at the time of disclosure necessitates immediate risk management and mitigation strategies.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-27830 can be substantial. Ghostscript is commonly integrated into enterprise document management systems, print servers, and software development environments, especially in sectors like publishing, legal, finance, and government. Exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code locally, potentially escalating privileges or moving laterally within networks. Confidentiality breaches could expose sensitive documents, while integrity violations might corrupt critical data or documents. Availability impacts could disrupt printing services or document workflows, causing operational downtime. Given the requirement for local access and user interaction, phishing or social engineering attacks could be leveraged to trigger the vulnerability. The high severity score underscores the critical need for European entities to assess their exposure, particularly those relying on legacy Ghostscript versions or embedded systems with limited update capabilities.

1. Upgrade Ghostscript to version 10.05.0 or later as soon as the patch becomes available to eliminate the vulnerability. 2. Until patches are applied, restrict local access to systems running Ghostscript, especially those processing untrusted documents. 3. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on documents before processing to detect and block malformed fonts or suspicious DollarBlend objects. 4. Employ sandboxing or containerization techniques for Ghostscript processes to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 5. Monitor logs and system behavior for anomalies indicative of exploitation attempts, such as crashes or unexpected process activity. 6. Educate users about the risks of opening untrusted PostScript or PDF files, emphasizing the need to avoid interacting with suspicious documents. 7. Coordinate with software vendors and internal development teams to ensure timely patch management and vulnerability scanning in document processing workflows.