Gtkwave
CVE-2023-38583
HIGH
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2021 - Vulnerable and Outdated Components
ASVS 5.0
V15 - Secure Coding and Architecture Buffer copy size validation
MITRE ATT&CK
1 technique across 1 tactic: Execution The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Impact | CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available. EPSS exploitation probability: 0.08%. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A local attacker with access to the system could overflow a buffer to corrupt adjacent memory. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Mar 28, 2026
A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the LXT2 lxt2_rd_expand_integer_to_bits function of GTKWave 3.3.115. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.8), this vulnerability is no authentication required, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available and no vendor patch available.
Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
Stack overflow in GTKWave LXT2 expand_integer_to_bits.
RemediationAI
No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Always validate buffer sizes before copy operations. Use bounded functions (strncpy, snprintf). Enable compiler protections.
Affects your stack
Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
This vulnerability is classified as Buffer Copy without Size Check (CWE-120), which allows attackers to overflow a buffer to corrupt adjacent memory. A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the LXT2 lxt2_rd_expand_integer_to_bits function of GTKWave 3.3.115. A specially crafted .lxt2 file can lead to arbitrary code execution. A victim would need to open a malicious file to trigger this vulnerability. Affected products include: Tonybybell Gtkwave.
Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
Lifecycle Timeline
2DescriptionCVE.org
A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the LXT2 lxt2_rd_expand_integer_to_bits function of GTKWave 3.3.115. A specially crafted .lxt2 file can lead to arbitrary code execution. A victim would need to open a malicious file to trigger this vulnerability.
Executive ViewAI
CVE-2023-38583 presents notable security risk, a buffer overflow vulnerability rated CVSS 7.8. Exploitation could allow attackers to corrupt memory, crash the application, or potentially execute arbitrary code. Proof-of-concept code is publicly available, increasing the risk of exploitation. Organizations should apply vendor updates when available and consider compensating controls in the interim.
Apply vendor patch. If immediate patching is not feasible: (1) Enable ASLR and DEP where available; (2) Implement network segmentation; (3) Monitor for exploitation indicators.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
A buffer overflow occurs when a program writes more data to a memory buffer than it was allocated to hold, causing the excess data to spill into adjacent memory regions.
Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.
Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org
Multiple use-after-free vulnerabilities exist in the VCD get_vartoken realloc functionality of GTKWave 3.3.115. Rated hi
Multiple use-after-free vulnerabilities exist in the VCD get_vartoken realloc functionality of GTKWave 3.3.115. Rated hi
Multiple out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities exist in the VCD var definition section functionality of GTKWave 3.3.115. Ra
Multiple use-after-free vulnerabilities exist in the VCD get_vartoken realloc functionality of GTKWave 3.3.115. Rated hi
Multiple out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities exist in the LXT2 parsing functionality of GTKWave 3.3.115. Rated high seve
Multiple out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities exist in the VCD var definition section functionality of GTKWave 3.3.115. Ra
Multiple integer overflow vulnerabilities exist in the LXT2 num_dict_entries functionality of GTKWave 3.3.115. Rated hig
Multiple OS command injection vulnerabilities exist in the decompression functionality of GTKWave 3.3.115. Rated high se
Multiple OS command injection vulnerabilities exist in the decompression functionality of GTKWave 3.3.115. Rated high se
Multiple OS command injection vulnerabilities exist in the decompression functionality of GTKWave 3.3.115. Rated high se
Multiple OS command injection vulnerabilities exist in the decompression functionality of GTKWave 3.3.115. Rated high se
Multiple use-after-free vulnerabilities exist in the VCD get_vartoken realloc functionality of GTKWave 3.3.115. Rated hi
GitHub PoC
Exploit-DB