CVE-2004-0057 in tcpdump
Summary
by MITRE
The rawprint function in the ISAKMP decoding routines (print-isakmp.c) for tcpdump 3.8.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (segmentation fault) via malformed ISAKMP packets that cause invalid "len" or "loc" values to be used in a loop, a different vulnerability than CVE-2003-0989.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-0057 represents a critical denial of service flaw within tcpdump's ISAKMP packet processing capabilities. This issue specifically affects tcpdump versions 3.8.1 and earlier, where the rawprint function in the ISAKMP decoding routines located in print-isakmp.c contains a fundamental programming error that can be exploited by remote attackers to crash the network packet analysis tool. The flaw occurs during the processing of Internet Security Association and Key Management Protocol packets, which are essential components of IPsec security implementations used for establishing secure communications over networks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the ISAKMP packet parsing logic. When tcpdump encounters malformed ISAKMP packets containing invalid length or location values, the rawprint function fails to properly validate these parameters before using them in loop constructs. This improper validation leads to a segmentation fault when the software attempts to iterate using invalid loop parameters, causing the tcpdump process to crash and terminate unexpectedly. The vulnerability is distinct from CVE-2003-0989, indicating it represents a separate code path or implementation flaw within the ISAKMP parsing module. This flaw operates at the protocol decoding level where tcpdump processes and displays network traffic, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered simply by capturing and analyzing malicious network packets without requiring any special privileges or direct interaction with the target system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be leveraged by attackers to perform targeted denial of service attacks against systems running vulnerable versions of tcpdump. Network administrators who rely on tcpdump for monitoring and troubleshooting network traffic could find their monitoring capabilities compromised when attackers send malicious ISAKMP packets to systems where tcpdump is actively capturing traffic. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where tcpdump is used for security monitoring, intrusion detection, or network forensics, as it can effectively disable the very tools designed to protect network infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that an attacker does not need physical access to the target system or direct network access to the system running tcpdump, making this vulnerability especially dangerous in network monitoring scenarios.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of length parameters, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1498, which covers network denial of service attacks. The flaw demonstrates poor defensive programming practices and highlights the importance of robust input validation in network protocol parsers. Organizations should immediately update to tcpdump versions 3.9.0 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper parameter validation and bounds checking. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic, while also ensuring that tcpdump is not running with elevated privileges when possible. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of thorough testing and validation of network protocol parsers, particularly in security tools that are widely deployed across network infrastructure components.