Arbitrary code execution via stale varsplit pointer
Published Jan 8, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025
Use-after-free in GTKWave 3.3.115 vcd2lxt2 allows context-dependent attackers to execute code through a crafted VCD file. The get_vartoken function retains varsplit into yytext across realloc; if the buffer moves, later length calculation and copying use freed memory and can overflow the heap. Exploitation requires a victim to open or convert the malicious file, and successful corruption runs code in that victim's process.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in GTKWave 3.3.115 vcd2lxt2 allows context-dependent attackers to execute code through a crafted VCD file. The get_vartoken function retains varsplit into yytext across realloc; if the buffer moves, later length calculation and copying use freed memory and can overflow the heap. Exploitation requires a victim to open or convert the malicious file, and successful corruption runs code in that victim's process.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-37577
- 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
- Jan 8, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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?
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- Affected versionversion=3.3.115
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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