CVE-2004-0176 in Ethereal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in Ethereal 0.8.13 to 0.10.2 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via the (1) NetFlow, (2) IGAP, (3) EIGRP, (4) PGM, (5) IrDA, (6) BGP, (7) ISUP, or (8) TCAP dissectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0176 represents a critical security flaw in Ethereal network protocol analyzer versions 0.8.13 through 0.10.2. This issue manifests as multiple buffer overflows within the software's packet dissection capabilities, specifically affecting eight distinct protocol dissectors including NetFlow, IGAP, EIGRP, PGM, IrDA, BGP, ISUP, and TCAP. The vulnerability resides in the software's ability to process and analyze network traffic, where improper input validation leads to memory corruption during protocol parsing operations.
These buffer overflow conditions occur when Ethereal encounters specially crafted network packets designed to exploit the dissectors' handling of protocol data structures. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the memory layout of the application through malformed packet data, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or complete application crash. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of Ethereal as a network analysis tool, where the software processes incoming network traffic to provide detailed protocol information and network behavior analysis.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as the buffer overflows could enable remote code execution on systems running vulnerable versions of Ethereal. This represents a significant risk for network security professionals who rely on Ethereal for network monitoring, troubleshooting, and security analysis. Attackers could leverage these vulnerabilities to compromise systems where Ethereal is running, potentially gaining unauthorized access to network monitoring capabilities and accessing sensitive network information. The affected dissectors span multiple network protocols commonly used in enterprise and telecommunications environments, amplifying the potential attack surface.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, covering heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The attack vector follows ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation could involve executing arbitrary code through the compromised application. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices in protocol parsing components, where the software fails to properly bounds-check data received from network sources. Organizations should immediately update to patched versions of Ethereal, as the vulnerability affects a widely used network analysis tool that many security professionals depend upon for network monitoring and incident response activities.
The remediation strategy involves applying the official patches released by the Ethereal development team, which address the buffer overflow conditions in all affected dissectors. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider alternative network analysis tools with more robust memory management practices and regular security updates to reduce reliance on vulnerable network monitoring solutions.