CVE-2023-36864: Integer Overflow Vulnerability in GTKWave 3.3.115 with Potential for Arbitrary Code Execution

Overview

In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, a new vulnerability has been detected within the GTKWave 3.3.115 version. This vulnerability, officially recognized as CVE-2023-36864, presents a significant risk due to its potential for allowing arbitrary code execution and subsequent system compromise or data leakage. The vulnerability affects users utilizing the GTKWave software, a fully featured GTK+ based wave viewer primarily intended for the viewing of VCD files (Value Change Dump) generated by various digital simulation tools. This issue is of particular concern due to the broad user base of the software, ranging from individual users to large organizations, and the consequential potential for unauthorized access, system compromise, and data leakage.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2023-36864
Severity: High – 7.8 (CVSS Severity Score)
Attack Vector: File-based
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Arbitrary code execution, potential system compromise, and data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

GTKWave | 3.3.115

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability lies within the ‘fstReaderIterBlocks2 temp_signal_value_buf’ allocation functionality of GTKWave 3.3.115. An integer overflow can occur when processing a specially crafted .fst file, leading to an out-of-bounds write and eventually arbitrary code execution. The exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction, meaning a victim would need to open the malicious .fst file for the vulnerability to trigger.

Conceptual Example Code

Here’s a conceptual representation of how this vulnerability might be exploited. Please note that this is a simplified pseudocode example and actual exploitation would require more complex code.

# Pseudocode for exploit
malicious_fst_file = create_malicious_fst_file() # Function that creates a malicious .fst file
def exploit(target):
send_file(target, malicious_fst_file) # Function that sends the malicious file to the target
exploit(target)

In this example, a malicious .fst file is created and sent to the target. If the target opens the file using GTKWave, the integer overflow vulnerability is triggered, leading to a potential arbitrary code execution.
It’s crucial to note that users and organizations should apply the vendor-released patch immediately or use WAF/IDS as temporary mitigation to this vulnerability.