CVE-2000-1174 in Ethereal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in AFS ACL parser for Ethereal 0.8.13 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a packet with a long username.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-1174 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the AFS Access Control List parser component of Ethereal network protocol analyzer version 0.8.13 and earlier. This vulnerability exists in the handling of user authentication data during network packet processing, specifically when parsing AFS ACL entries that contain excessively long username strings. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking within the packet parsing logic, creating a condition where maliciously crafted network traffic can overwrite adjacent memory locations in the application's memory space. This particular vulnerability affects the core protocol analysis functionality of Ethereal, which was widely used for network traffic monitoring and debugging purposes in enterprise environments.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when the AFS ACL parser processes incoming network packets containing user authentication information. The parser fails to properly validate the length of username fields within AFS Access Control Lists, allowing an attacker to craft packets with username strings that exceed the allocated buffer size. When the application attempts to copy this oversized username into a fixed-size buffer, the excess data overflows into adjacent memory regions, potentially overwriting critical program variables, return addresses, or function pointers. This memory corruption can be exploited to redirect program execution flow and inject malicious code, enabling remote code execution on systems running vulnerable versions of Ethereal. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's network packet processing pipeline where AFS protocol data is parsed and analyzed, making it particularly dangerous in network monitoring scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2000-1174 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it represents a fundamental security weakness in network analysis tools that are often deployed in critical infrastructure environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to systems running vulnerable Ethereal versions, potentially compromising network monitoring capabilities and enabling further lateral movement within networks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because Ethereal was commonly used in enterprise security operations for packet capture and protocol analysis, meaning that exploitation could lead to complete compromise of network monitoring infrastructure. Additionally, the remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require local system access or credentials to exploit the vulnerability, making it a significant threat to network security operations. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter execution, demonstrating the multi-faceted attack surface this vulnerability creates.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2000-1174 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to patched releases of Ethereal, which were subsequently released to address the buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of systems running Ethereal, particularly in critical network monitoring environments. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and bounds checking in protocol parsing applications, aligning with CWE-121 for stack-based buffer overflow conditions. Network administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can detect anomalous packet patterns consistent with this attack vector, and establish regular security patching procedures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future. The remediation process should include thorough vulnerability assessments of all network monitoring tools and applications to identify similar buffer overflow conditions that may exist in other protocol analysis software.