Code execution via unchecked sorted-array binary search
Published Jan 8, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025
Arbitrary write in GTKWave 3.3.115 allows attackers to execute code by inducing a user to process a crafted VCD file with vcd2lxt2. The vcd2lxt2 bsearch_vcd function calls bsearch with a null sorted-array pointer when an identifier hash falls outside the indexed range, allowing attacker-influenced memory to be treated as a vcdsymbol whose size and value fields drive writes. Exploitation requires user interaction with a malicious VCD file and can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability through code execution.
Summary
What happened
Arbitrary write in GTKWave 3.3.115 allows attackers to execute code by inducing a user to process a crafted VCD file with vcd2lxt2. The vcd2lxt2 bsearch_vcd function calls bsearch with a null sorted-array pointer when an identifier hash falls outside the indexed range, allowing attacker-influenced memory to be treated as a vcdsymbol whose size and value fields drive writes. Exploitation requires user interaction with a malicious VCD file and can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability through code execution.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-37922
- Published
- Jan 8, 2024
- Updated
- Nov 4, 2025
- Vendor
- GTKWave
- Product
- GTKWave
- Classifications
- CWE-118, T1204.002, T1203
- 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?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=3.3.115
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Cisco Talos crafted VCD proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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