CVE-2023-37574

Arbitrary code execution via stale VCD pointer

Published Jan 8, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Use-after-free in GTKWave 3.3.115's legacy VCD parser allows attackers to execute arbitrary code when a user opens a crafted VCD file. The get_vartoken function retains varsplit as an interior pointer into yytext, then reallocates yytext without updating varsplit and later reads from and writes through the stale pointer. Exploitation requires launching the GUI with the -L legacy-parser flag and opening attacker-controlled content, resulting in code execution within the user's process.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.40%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in GTKWave 3.3.115's legacy VCD parser allows attackers to execute arbitrary code when a user opens a crafted VCD file. The get_vartoken function retains varsplit as an interior pointer into yytext, then reallocates yytext without updating varsplit and later reads from and writes through the stale pointer. Exploitation requires launching the GUI with the -L legacy-parser flag and opening attacker-controlled content, resulting in code execution within the user's process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-37574
Published
Jan 8, 2024
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
GTKWave
Product
GTKWave
Classifications
CWE-416, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 8, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 4, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=3.3.115

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

GTKWave · GTKWaveversion=3.3.115

Published CVSS scores

7.8Cisco TalosCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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