CVE-2023-39274

What it actually does

Integer overflow during allocation of the len array in LXT2 facgeometry parsing allows out-of-bounds memory access and potential arbitrary code execution when a crafted .lxt2 file is processed.

Why it matters to the business

Attackers can gain full control of systems running the affected waveform viewer if users open malicious files, leading to data theft, ransomware deployment, or lateral movement with no vendor patch currently published.

How an attack unfolds

An attacker crafts a .lxt2 file containing specially chosen geometry values that trigger an integer overflow when GTKWave allocates the len array; the victim opens the file in the vulnerable application, the overflow corrupts memory structures, and attacker-controlled code is executed.

How to fix it

Upgrade to the latest GTKWave release once a fix is published; until then, avoid opening untrusted .lxt2 files and run the application under sandboxing or least-privilege constraints.

How to confirm the fix worked

Confirm GTKWave version is newer than 3.3.115 and test that crafted LXT2 samples no longer trigger crashes or unexpected memory behavior during facgeometry parsing.

Typical attack path

1. Create malicious .lxt2 file with oversized facgeometry values
2. Deliver file via email, download link, or shared storage
3. Victim opens file in GTKWave 3.3.115
4. Integer overflow occurs during len array allocation
5. Memory corruption leads to arbitrary code execution

How to detect it

Review file-open logs and process creation events for GTKWave handling of .lxt2 files from untrusted sources; look for application crashes or memory-corruption indicators shortly after file access.

What your security team should do

• Block or sandbox GTKWave execution on high-risk endpoints until patched
• Implement file-type restrictions and user training to prevent opening untrusted waveform files
• Monitor for new upstream releases and expedite deployment once available