CVE-2023-38651 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This article provides an overview of CVE-2023-38651, including its description, impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.

Understanding CVE-2023-38651

CVE-2023-38651 is a vulnerability that affects GTKWave version 3.3.115, leading to memory corruption due to multiple integer overflow vulnerabilities. The issue lies in the VZT vzt_rd_block_vch_decode times parsing functionality.

What is CVE-2023-38651?

The CVE-2023-38651 vulnerability involves integer overflow when num_time_ticks is zero, allowing an attacker to craft a specially designed .vzt file to exploit the vulnerability and trigger memory corruption.

The Impact of CVE-2023-38651

The impact of CVE-2023-38651 is rated as high, with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.0. The vulnerability could be exploited locally with high attack complexity, causing significant confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-38651

The following technical details outline the vulnerability, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in GTKWave 3.3.115 arises from an integer overflow issue in the VZT vzt_rd_block_vch_decode times parsing functionality, which allows memory corruption via a crafted .vzt file.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: GTKWave
Product: GTKWave
Version: 3.3.115

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by creating a malicious .vzt file that triggers the integer overflow when num_time_ticks is set to zero, leading to memory corruption.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-38651, it is crucial to take immediate steps and adopt long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GTKWave to a patched version that addresses the integer overflow vulnerabilities.
Avoid opening .vzt files from untrusted or unknown sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and systems to prevent known vulnerabilities.
Follow security best practices and protocols to minimize the impact of potential exploits.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and patches released by GTKWave to address CVE-2023-38651 and other vulnerabilities.