CVE-2023-39198: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 · Use After Free
Affects Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8Source CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.5 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 10:12 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.4% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 35% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 9 Nov 2023
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
AI-suggested
To mitigate CVE-2023-39198, organizations should prioritize the following actions: 1) Monitor Red Hat advisories closely and apply kernel patches or updates as soon as they become available to address the QXL driver vulnerability. 2) Restrict local access to systems running Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, especially limiting access to trusted users and enforcing strict privilege separation to reduce the risk of exploitation by insiders or compromised accounts. 3) Employ kernel hardening techniques such as Kernel Address Space Layout Randomization (KASLR) and Control Flow Integrity (CFI) where supported to increase exploitation difficulty. 4) Audit and monitor system logs for unusual kernel or QXL driver activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. 5) In virtualized environments, consider disabling or limiting the use of QXL drivers if feasible, or isolate virtual machines to minimize impact. 6) Implement robust endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous kernel-level behavior. 7) Educate system administrators and users about the risks of privilege escalation vulnerabilities and enforce the principle of least privilege. These targeted measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on the specific nature of the vulnerability and its exploitation requirements.
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.
References
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:2394 (opens in a new tab)
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:2950 (opens in a new tab)
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:3138 (opens in a new tab)
- access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-39198 (opens in a new tab)
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2218332 (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/06/msg00016.html (opens in a new tab)