Kernel crash or privilege escalation via QXL race
Published Nov 9, 2023 · Updated Mar 24, 2026
A QXL driver race in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 and 9 allows local users to crash the kernel or escalate privileges through DRM ioctls. qxl_gem_object_create_with_handle() returns an object whose only reference is held by the new GEM handle, so qxl_mode_dumb_create() dereferences freed memory if another thread closes that handle first. Exploitation requires local access to a QXL DRM device and winning the handle-close race, with consequences limited to a kernel crash or privilege escalation.
Summary
What happened
A QXL driver race in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 and 9 allows local users to crash the kernel or escalate privileges through DRM ioctls. qxl_gem_object_create_with_handle() returns an object whose only reference is held by the new GEM handle, so qxl_mode_dumb_create() dereferences freed memory if another thread closes that handle first. Exploitation requires local access to a QXL DRM device and winning the handle-close race, with consequences limited to a kernel crash or privilege escalation.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-39198
- Published
- Nov 9, 2023
- Updated
- Mar 24, 2026
- Vendor
- Red Hat
- Product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Classifications
- CWE-416, CWE-366, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 9, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Mar 24, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Affected versions are unavailable in this record. Check the vendor advisory for version and patch details.
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
- Linux QXL handle-close race reproducerproof 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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