---
id: CVE-2023-39198
title: >-
  Kernel: qxl: race condition leading to use-after-free in
  qxl_mode_dumb_create()
summary: >-
  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. Th…
severity: high
cvss: 7.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-416
vendor: Red Hat
product: kernel-rt
affected:
  - kernel-rt (all versions)
  - kernel (all versions)
  - kernel (all versions)
  - kernel (all versions)
  - kernel
  - kernel
  - kernel-rt
  - kernel-rt (all versions)
ssvc:
  exploitation: none
  automatable: 'no'
  technicalImpact: total
  timestamp: '2024-08-01T03:55:52.570322Z'
published: '2023-11-09'
updated: '2026-11-07'
sourceUpdated: '2026-11-07T05:01:34.435Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-39198'
references:
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:2394'
    label: 'RHSA-2024:2394'
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:2950'
    label: 'RHSA-2024:2950'
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2024:3138'
    label: 'RHSA-2024:3138'
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-39198'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2218332'
    label: RHBZ#2218332
tags:
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00435
epssPercentile: 0.37967
ingestedAt: '2026-11-07T05:10:28.779Z'
---

## Overview

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

- `kernel-rt (all versions)`
- `kernel (all versions)`
- `kernel (all versions)`
- `kernel (all versions)`
- `kernel`
- `kernel`
- `kernel-rt`
- `kernel-rt (all versions)`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.

### Workarounds

Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.