# CVE-2023-37574: Use after free in GTKWave

> A use-after-free vulnerability in GTKWave allows arbitrary code execution when a victim opens a malicious VCD file.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 8 Jan 2024
- **Updated:** 4 Nov 2025
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2023-37574, GHSA-q4gv-76qv-qh34, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-37574

## What is CVE-2023-37574?

CVE-2023-37574 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Tonybybell Gtkwave, published on 8 Jan 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Multiple use-after-free vulnerabilities exist in the VCD get_vartoken realloc functionality of GTKWave 3.3.115. A specially crafted .vcd file can lead to arbitrary code execution. A victim would need to open a malicious file to trigger these vulnerabilities.This vulnerability concerns the use-after-free when triggered via the GUI's legacy VCD parsing code.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-37574?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Tonybybell Gtkwave.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-37574?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-37574 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-37574 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Tonybybell Gtkwave

- [CVE-2023-34087](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-34087/): Memory corruption in GTKWave (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2023-34436](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-34436/): Memory corruption in GTKWave (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2023-35004](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-35004/): Integer overflow in GTKWave (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2023-35057](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-35057/): Integer overflow in GTKWave (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2023-35702](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-35702/): Memory corruption in GTKWave (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-37574 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-37574 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Tonybybell Gtkwave, published on 8 Jan 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-37574 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Tonybybell Gtkwave. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-37574/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-37574/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-37574
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-37574
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-37574

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-37574/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.