CVE-2023-38197 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

An issue was discovered in Qt before 5.15.15, 6.x before 6.2.10, and 6.3.x through 6.5.x before 6.5.3 where there are infinite loops in recursive entity expansion.

Understanding CVE-2023-38197

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Qt software versions that can lead to infinite loops during recursive entity expansion.

What is CVE-2023-38197?

CVE-2023-38197 is a security flaw found in Qt versions prior to specific updates, causing a recursive entity expansion issue that results in infinite loops within the software.

The Impact of CVE-2023-38197

This vulnerability could potentially lead to denial of service (DoS) attacks, causing affected software to become unresponsive and impacting system stability.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-38197

The technical details of this CVE include:

Vulnerability Description

The issue stems from recursive entity expansion problems within Qt versions before 5.15.15, 6.x before 6.2.10, and 6.3.x through 6.5.x before 6.5.3.

Affected Systems and Versions

All Qt software versions before 5.15.15, 6.x before 6.2.10, and 6.3.x through 6.5.x before 6.5.3 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability by triggering recursive entity expansion, leading to infinite loops in the software and resource exhaustion.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-38197, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Qt software to versions 5.15.15, 6.2.10, or 6.5.3 or later to eliminate the infinite loop issue.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor for security updates and patches released by Qt to stay protected against known vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Qt promptly to mitigate the risk of exploitation and improve the overall security posture of the software.