Ubuntu USN-8791-1 Fixes Ghostscript Vulnerability
Tech GuruQuick Answer
Ubuntu's USN-8791-1 fixes CVE-2026-39919 in Ghostscript on jammy, noble, and resolute. A crafted file with JPEG 2000 image components can cause a crash or code execution when Ghostscript processes it. Install the fixed package for the host's release and validate the dependent document workflow.
Confirm Scope And Apply The Supported Fix
What to do now: Identify systems and services that send external documents to Ghostscript, record the Ubuntu release and relevant package versions, update through Ubuntu's supported channel, and test approved rendering or conversion jobs.
Last verified: 2026-09-21 UTC. Recheck the authoritative advisory and supported distribution channel before changing production.
Scope And Authority
| Product scope | Ghostscript vulnerability on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (resolute), Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (noble), Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (jammy) |
|---|---|
| Advisory | USN-8791-1 |
| CVE | CVE-2026-39919 |
| Authoritative release date | 2026-09-21 12:51:18.798170 UTC |
| Authority revision date | 2026-09-21 12:51:18.798170 UTC |
| Affected versions | The Ubuntu releases and packages enumerated in USN-8791-1: Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (resolute), Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (noble), Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (jammy). |
| Fixed version | jammy: ghostscript 9.55.0~dfsg1-0ubuntu5.14 / noble: ghostscript 10.02.1~dfsg1-0ubuntu7.9 / resolute: ghostscript 10.06.0~dfsg-3ubuntu1.1 |
| CVSS base score | Not provided by the authority |
| CVSS severity | Not provided by the authority |
| Exploitation status | Not stated by the authority; no exploitation claim is inferred. |
What Changed
Ubuntu identifies incorrect handling of JPEG 2000 components with mismatched subsampling factors. The risk occurs when the crafted file is opened by Ghostscript; the summary's phrase 'as your login' refers to the processing user's context, not an automatic root takeover. Ubuntu states that a standard system update generally makes the required changes.
What To Validate Now
- Inventory. Record Ghostscript command-line and library consumers, including document conversion services and images, with the release and account used to process external files.
- Establish applicability. Compare each deployment with the authority's affected-version statement: The Ubuntu releases and packages enumerated in USN-8791-1: Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (resolute), Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (noble), Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (jammy). Do not infer applicability from product family or severity alone.
- Remediate. Apply jammy: ghostscript 9.55.0~dfsg1-0ubuntu5.14 / noble: ghostscript 10.02.1~dfsg1-0ubuntu7.9 / resolute: ghostscript 10.06.0~dfsg-3ubuntu1.1 through the supported vendor or project channel, following the current advisory and change-control requirements.
- Validate. Confirm the updated Ghostscript and applicable libgs packages in the deployed environment, then exercise trusted rendering/conversion and application error handling. Preserve suspect files and logs for investigation without reopening them in production.
- Retain evidence. Preserve asset and owner identifiers, the applicability decision, before-and-after versions, change approval, installation output, validation results, and any exception or rollback record.
Operational Cautions
Use the exact supported release stream and repository. Test dependencies, clusters, integrations, and rollback before broad deployment; a CVSS rating or reachable feature is not evidence of exploitation.
Evidence To Retain
- Exact product, release stream, package or application version, enabled feature, environment, and accountable owner.
- UTC timestamps, authority revision, approved change record, installer or package-manager output, and resulting version.
- Relevant logs and monitoring evidence, test results, exceptions, compensating controls, and rollback decisions.
Related TechGeeks Resources
Authoritative References
Correction policy: If the authority changes affected versions, fixed versions, severity, exploitation information, mitigations, or required action, TechGeeks will update this notice and its verification date.
