CVE-2005-0699 in Ethereal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in the dissect_a11_radius function in the CDMA A11 (3G-A11) dissector (packet-3g-a11.c) for Ethereal 0.10.9 and earlier allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via RADIUS authentication packets with large length values.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-0699 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Ethereal network protocol analyzer software version 0.10.9 and earlier. This issue specifically affects the CDMA A11 dissector component, which is responsible for parsing and analyzing 3G-A11 protocol packets in network traffic. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation within the dissect_a11_radius function, creating a condition where maliciously crafted RADIUS authentication packets can trigger memory corruption. Buffer overflows of this nature are particularly dangerous as they can lead to arbitrary code execution, allowing remote attackers to gain control over the affected system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking in the packet parsing logic. When Ethereal processes RADIUS authentication packets containing unusually large length values, the dissect_a11_radius function fails to validate the input parameters before attempting to copy data into fixed-size buffers. This classic buffer overflow scenario occurs because the software does not properly sanitize the length field within the RADIUS packet structure, enabling attackers to overflow adjacent memory locations. The flaw is categorized under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which is a well-documented weakness in software development practices that directly relates to improper handling of variable-length input data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant threat to network security infrastructure that relies on Ethereal for packet analysis and monitoring. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious RADIUS packets that contain oversized length fields, which when processed by the vulnerable dissector will overwrite critical memory segments. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Ethereal process. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors targeting network monitoring systems, as compromising such tools can provide extensive visibility into network traffic and potentially enable further attacks.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and control communication, as attackers could use compromised network analysis tools to establish persistent access to monitored networks. Organizations using affected versions of Ethereal should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of the software, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious RADIUS packet patterns. Additionally, network administrators should consider disabling the CDMA A11 dissector functionality if it is not essential for their monitoring requirements, as this provides an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in network protocol analysis tools, highlighting how seemingly minor implementation flaws can create significant security risks in critical infrastructure components.