CVE-2023-35959: Command Injection Vulnerability in GTKWave 3.3.115

Overview

The cybersecurity landscape is constantly evolving, and the introduction of CVE-2023-35959 further underscores this notion. This unique vulnerability specifically affects GTKWave 3.3.115, a software used for viewing waveform data. The vulnerability lies in the decompression functionality of the software and can lead to arbitrary command execution when a malicious wave file is opened. This can potentially compromise the system or lead to data leakage, affecting both individuals and organizations that utilize the software.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2023-35959
Severity: High (7.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

GTKWave | 3.3.115

How the Exploit Works

The exploit leverages the decompression functionality of the GTKWave software. Specifically, multiple OS command injection vulnerabilities exist within this function. This implies that an attacker can inject malicious commands into the decompression function of the software through specially crafted wave files. When these files are opened in GTKWave, the malicious commands are executed, leading to arbitrary command execution. This can potentially compromise the system or lead to data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

Given the nature of this vulnerability, an example of how this might be exploited might look like this:

# Craft malicious wave file
echo "malicious_command" > malicious.ghw
# User opens the malicious file in GTKWave
GTKWave malicious.ghw

In this example, `malicious_command` represents a command that an attacker wants to run on the victim’s system. When the victim opens the `malicious.ghw` file using GTKWave, the command is executed, potentially leading to unauthorized system access or data leakage.

Recommendations for Mitigation

To mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability, it is recommended to apply the vendor patch as soon as it is available. In the meantime, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can provide temporary mitigation. These systems can detect and prevent the execution of the malicious commands. However, they should be used in conjunction with the patch for full protection.