CVE-2017-11714

What it actually does

Out-of-bounds read in scanner state reference handling within Ghostscript's PostScript processing causes application crash or memory corruption.

Why it matters to the business

Service disruptions or potential code execution in environments processing PostScript content, increasing operational risk for dependent applications even years after initial disclosure.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker supplies a crafted PostScript document that triggers mishandled scanner state references during parsing, leading to an out-of-bounds read in memory management functions.

How to fix it

Upgrade metrics-server (Chainguard) and metrics-server (Wolfi) to version 0.6.4-r8 or later; remove or isolate older Ghostscript-dependent components until updated.

How to confirm the fix worked

Verify installed package versions match or exceed 0.6.4-r8 for the affected metrics-server distributions and confirm Ghostscript dependency is resolved.

Typical attack path

1. Create malicious PostScript document exploiting scanner reference handling
2. Deliver document to target system via local file or application input
3. Induce target application to process the document with vulnerable Ghostscript
4. Trigger memory corruption resulting in crash or further impact

How to detect it

Review application and system logs for Ghostscript crashes during PostScript parsing; monitor for unexpected process terminations or memory errors tied to document processing.

What your security team should do

• Apply the specified package updates to 0.6.4-r8 without delay
• Audit all environments for presence of vulnerable Ghostscript versions
• Implement strict input validation for any PostScript processing workflows