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TI-2023-03747 Aliases CVE-2023-4039

GCC's-fstack-protector fails to guard dynamically-sized local variables on AArch64

Priority MEDIUM 55CWE-693Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
High
Impact type
Security bypass
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
Low · Low · None
Fix status
No fix listed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-693.

Summary

**DISPUTED**A failure in the -fstack-protector feature in GCC-based toolchains that target AArch64 allows an attacker to exploit an existing buffer overflow in dynamically-sized local variables in your application without this being detected. This stack-protector failure only applies to C99-style dynamically-sized local variables or those created using alloca(). The stack-protector operates as intended for statically-sized local variables. The default behavior when the stack-protector detects an overflow is to terminate your application, resulting in controlled loss of availability. An attacker who can exploit a buffer overflow without triggering the stack-protector might be able to change program flow control to cause an uncontrolled loss of availability or to go further and affect confidentiality or integrity. NOTE: The GCC project argues that this is a missed hardening bug and not a vulnerability by itself.

Why it matters now

Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.01036 64th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 2 exploit referencesTagged by NVD
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
Poc
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
ArmArm GNU ToolchainAll versions where option -fstack-protector is used and later—No fix listedCNA
GNUGCCAll versions of GCC that target AArch64 when option -fstack-protector is used—No fix listedCNA
  • Arm GNU Toolchain VendorArm Affected All versions where option -fstack-protector is used and later Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
  • GCC VendorGNU Affected All versions of GCC that target AArch64 when option -fstack-protector is used Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gcc:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:*before 2023-09-12VulnerableGNU
  • cpe:2.3:a:gnu:gcc:*:*:*:*:*:*:arm64:* Versions before 2023-09-12 Vulnerable ·GNU

Remediation

No fixed version listed by the sources yet.

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management for Kubernetes 2AffectedNo fix yet: Fix deferred
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 3.11AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat OpenShift Data Science (RHODS)AffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization 4AffectedNo fix yet
Red Hat Virtualization 4AffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Not affected: 7 products
  • Cryostat 2
  • Migration Toolkit for Containers
  • Red Hat 3scale API Management Platform 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
  • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
  • Red Hat OpenShift Dev Spaces

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-4039

References

Exploit 2

  • TI-2022-17875 The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver allows unprivileged users to access freed memory because… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2021-10068 . KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2021-09732 The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver allows privilege escalation or a denial of service (memory… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2021-09731 The Arm Mali GPU kernel driver allows privilege escalation or information disclosure… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2024-04292 Mali GPU Kernel Driver allows improper GPU memory processing operations KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
  • TI-2022-06958 Arm Mali GPU Kernel Driver allows a non-privileged user to achieve write access to… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
See all 174 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences