CVE-2023-37578 in GTKWave
Summary
by MITRE • 01/08/2024
Multiple use-after-free vulnerabilities exist in the VCD get_vartoken realloc functionality of GTKWave 3.3.115. A specially crafted .vcd file can lead to arbitrary code execution. A victim would need to open a malicious file to trigger these vulnerabilities.This vulnerability concerns the use-after-free when triggered via the vcd2lxt conversion utility.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-37578 represents a critical security flaw within GTKWave version 3.3.115 that manifests through multiple use-after-free conditions in the VCD get_vartoken realloc functionality. This issue specifically affects the vcd2lxt conversion utility, which serves as a bridge between VCD (Value Change Dump) files and LXT (Logic eXtension) format files commonly used in digital circuit simulation and verification environments. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices where freed memory blocks are accessed after being reallocated, creating exploitable conditions that can be leveraged by malicious actors.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a maliciously crafted .vcd file is processed by the affected GTKWave utility. During the conversion process, the get_vartoken function handles memory reallocation operations that fail to properly validate or manage memory references, leading to use-after-free scenarios. This flaw allows an attacker to manipulate the memory state such that subsequent operations on freed memory locations can be controlled to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application. The vulnerability specifically impacts the vcd2lxt conversion utility, which is designed to transform VCD waveform data into LXT format for enhanced visualization and analysis in electronic design automation environments.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2023-37578 is severe as it enables remote code execution through simple file manipulation. An attacker can craft a malicious VCD file that, when opened or processed by a victim using GTKWave 3.3.115, will trigger the use-after-free conditions and potentially allow full system compromise. The attack vector requires only that a user interacts with the malicious file through the vulnerable conversion utility, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently process waveform data from untrusted sources. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-416, which defines use-after-free conditions as a critical memory safety issue, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution, as successful exploitation would likely involve executing malicious code within the application context.
The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in memory management within the GTKWave codebase, specifically within the VCD file parsing and conversion logic. The use-after-free conditions occur during the realloc operation of variable token handling, where the application fails to properly track memory references after deallocation. This pattern of memory management failure creates opportunities for attackers to overwrite freed memory with controlled data, leading to arbitrary code execution. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability affects the broader electronic design automation ecosystem where VCD files are commonly used for simulation verification and debugging purposes, making it particularly concerning for organizations in the semiconductor and electronics design industries. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially compromise entire development environments where waveform analysis tools are extensively used for verification processes.