CVE-2023-39274
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2023-39274 is an integer overflow vulnerability in GTKWave's LXT2 file parser that allows arbitrary code execution when a user opens a malicious .lxt2 file. This affects users of GTKWave version 3.3.115 who process waveform data files. Attackers can craft malicious files to trigger memory corruption and execute arbitrary code on the victim's system.
💻 Affected Systems
- GTKWave
📦 What is this software?
Gtkwave by Tonybybell
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full system compromise with attacker gaining the same privileges as the user running GTKWave, potentially leading to data theft, ransomware deployment, or lateral movement.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution in the context of the user opening the malicious file, potentially leading to data exfiltration or malware installation.
If Mitigated
Denial of service or application crash if exploit fails or is detected by security controls.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires crafting a malicious .lxt2 file and convincing a user to open it. No public exploit code has been identified in the references.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 3.3.116 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/04/msg00007.html
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Check current GTKWave version. 2. Download and install GTKWave 3.3.116 or later from official sources. 3. Verify installation by checking version. 4. Remove any older vulnerable versions.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable LXT2 file processing
allPrevent GTKWave from opening .lxt2 files by removing file association or using application controls.
# Linux: chmod -x /path/to/gtkwave (if only used for specific file types)
# Windows: Use Group Policy to block .lxt2 file execution
Sandbox GTKWave execution
allRun GTKWave in a sandboxed environment to limit potential damage from malicious files.
# Linux: firejail --net=none gtkwave
# Windows: Use Windows Sandbox or similar virtualization
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement application whitelisting to prevent execution of GTKWave
- Use email/web filtering to block .lxt2 attachments and educate users about the risk
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check GTKWave version: 'gtkwave --version' should show 3.3.115 or earlierCheck Version:
gtkwave --versionVerify Fix Applied:
After update, 'gtkwave --version' should show 3.3.116 or later📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- GTKWave crash logs with memory corruption errors
- Unexpected process creation from GTKWave
Network Indicators:
- Outbound connections from GTKWave process to suspicious IPs
SIEM Query:
Process Creation where Image contains 'gtkwave' AND ParentImage NOT IN ('explorer.exe', 'bash', 'terminal')🔗 References
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/04/msg00007.html
- https://talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2023-1818
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/04/msg00007.html
- https://talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2023-1818
- https://www.talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2023-1818
