Overview
The open-source software GTKWave 3.3.115 has been found to have critical vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit to gain unauthorized access and execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2023-35969, affects the fstReaderIterBlocks2 chain_table parsing functionality and can lead to potential system compromise or data leakage. The risk is significant for all users of GTKWave 3.3.115, as the successful exploitation of the vulnerability can lead to malicious activity, including system compromise, information theft, or even full control of the system.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2023-35969
Severity: High (CVSS: 7.8)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise, data leakage
Affected Products
No phone number, email, or personal info required.
Product | Affected Versions
GTKWave | 3.3.115
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability resides in the chain_table parsing functionality (FST_BL_VCDATA and FST_BL_VCDATA_DYN_ALIAS section types) of GTKWave. The software fails to properly handle a specially crafted .fst file, leading to a heap-based buffer overflow. This occurs when data is written to a buffer, surpassing its boundary and corrupting data in adjacent memory locations. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by persuading a user to open a malicious .fst file, which can lead to arbitrary code execution.
Conceptual Example Code
The following is a simplified conceptual representation of how the vulnerability might be exploited. It demonstrates a malicious .fst file being opened:
# On the target machine:
$ gtkwave malicious.fstThis example represents a scenario where an attacker has delivered a malicious .fst file (malicious.fst) to the target machine. When a user opens the file using GTKWave, the exploit triggers.
Please note that the actual exploitation of this vulnerability would likely involve a far more complex and carefully designed .fst file, specifically crafted to trigger the buffer overflow and execute arbitrary code on the target system.
Solution and Mitigations
To mitigate this vulnerability, users are advised to apply the vendor patch as soon as it becomes available. Before the patch, users can put a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) into place as a temporary mitigation. These systems can help detect and prevent any attempts to exploit the vulnerability. Additionally, users should be cautious of untrusted .fst files and refrain from opening any such files from unknown sources.