CVE-2023-39198

Kernel: qxl: race condition leading to use-after-free in qxl_mode_dumb_create()

MEDIUM
6.4
CVSS Score
Published: November 9, 2023 at 07:15 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 06:11 AM UTC
3 products affected across 3 vendorsLinux KernelFedoraEnterprise Linux

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Severity
MEDIUM6.4
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.4%
SSVC
No known exploit

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.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

Affected range stops below 6.5, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Vendor states this is fixed in 0:4.18.0-553.el8_10 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 0:4.18.0-553.rt7.342.el8_10 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 0:5.14.0-427.13.1.el9_4 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6 (unknown)
Vendor states this is fixed in 7 (unknown)

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

References (6)

VDB Entryx_refsource_REDHATIssue TrackingThird Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-39198
Issue Trackingx_refsource_REDHATPatchThird Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2218332
Source: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/06/msg00016.html

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatableTotal impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
HIGH
Privileges
HIGH
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-416CWE-366

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