CVE-2023-36746 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This article provides detailed information about CVE-2023-36746, including its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

Understanding CVE-2023-36746

CVE-2023-36746 is a vulnerability found in GTKWave version 3.3.115, leading to multiple heap-based buffer overflow issues. An attacker can exploit this flaw by tricking a victim into opening a specially crafted .fst file, causing memory corruption.

What is CVE-2023-36746?

The vulnerability in the fstReaderIterBlocks2 fstWritex len feature of GTKWave 3.3.115 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a maliciously crafted file.

The Impact of CVE-2023-36746

With a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.0, this high-severity vulnerability requires no special privileges for exploitation. It can result in significant confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts on affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-36746

This section discusses the vulnerability description, affected systems, versions, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw arises from improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer, specifically in the handling of

len

when parsing the time table in

fstWritex

of GTKWave 3.3.115.

Affected Systems and Versions

GTKWave version 3.3.115 is confirmed to be affected by this vulnerability, exposing systems with this version to potential exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

By manipulating the

len

parameter in a crafted .fst file and enticing a victim to open it using GTKWave 3.3.115, an attacker can trigger the heap-based buffer overflow, leading to memory corruption.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from CVE-2023-36746, it is crucial to implement immediate steps and long-term security practices while staying updated on patches.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to avoid opening untrusted .fst files or files from unknown sources to prevent exploitation. Disable GTKWave or switch to a patched version if available.

Long-Term Security Practices

Practice regular security hygiene, such as keeping software up to date, employing network segmentation, and conducting regular security audits to mitigate potential risks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from GTKWave and apply patches promptly to address CVE-2023-36746 and other known vulnerabilities.