CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-2203NVD status: Modified

WebKitGTK: Use After Free

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2023-2203 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in WebKitGTK, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.93% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 61% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Check which version of WebKitGTK you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
WebKitGTKWebKitGTKNot specified in the recordNot stated
WebkitgtkWebkit2gtk32.38.5-1.el8; 2.38.5-1.el9Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux8.0; 9.0Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux EUS8.8; 9.2Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux Server AUS8.8; 9.2Not stated
Red HatEnterprise Linux Server TUS8.8Not stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.18.8HighNVD
CVSS 3.18.8HighCISA (ADP)

Official description

A flaw was found in the WebKitGTK package. An improper input validation issue may lead to a use-after-free vulnerability. This flaw allows attackers with network access to pass specially crafted web content files, causing a denial of service or arbitrary code execution. This CVE exists because of a CVE-2023-28205 security regression for the WebKitGTK package in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Use After Free

The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory belongs to the code that operates on the new pointer.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Choose a language that provides automatic memory management.
  • When freeing pointers, be sure to set them to NULL once they are freed. However, the utilization of multiple or complex data structures may lower the usefulness of this strategy.

More Use After Free vulnerabilities (CWE-416)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Third-party and government advisories

Other vulnerabilities in WebKitGTK

All WebKitGTK vulnerabilities

Recent Use After Free vulnerabilities

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