# CVE-2023-39198: Kernel: qxl: race condition leading to use-after-free in qxl_mode_dumb_create()

> A race condition in the Linux kernel QXL driver allows attackers to trigger a use-after-free, potentially causing denial of service or privilege escalation.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 9 Nov 2023
- **Updated:** 24 Mar 2026
- **Also known as:** AZL-31957, BELL-CVE-2023-39198, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-39198, GHSA-qhp7-446p-xq88, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-39198

## What is CVE-2023-39198?

CVE-2023-39198 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Fedoraproject Fedora, published on 9 Nov 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A race condition was found in the QXL driver in the Linux kernel. The qxl_mode_dumb_create() function dereferences the qobj returned by the qxl_gem_object_create_with_handle(), but the handle is the only one holding a reference to it. This flaw allows an attacker to guess the returned handle value and trigger a use-after-free issue, potentially leading to a denial of service or privilege escalation.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-39198?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Fedoraproject Fedora, Linux kernel, Redhat Enterprise Linux.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-39198?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-39198 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-39198 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Fedoraproject Fedora

- [CVE-2024-4577](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4577/): PHP-CGI OS Command Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-39226](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-39226/): Grafana Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-5544](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5544/): VMware ESXi and Horizon DaaS OpenSLP Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-4947](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4947/): Google Chromium V8 Type Confusion (critical 9.6, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-4671](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4671/): Google Chromium Visuals Use-After-Free (critical 9.6, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-39198 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-39198 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Fedoraproject Fedora, published on 9 Nov 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-39198 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Fedoraproject Fedora. 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-2023-39198/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-39198/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-39198
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-39198
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-39198

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-39198/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.