CVE-2005-1460 in Ethereal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unknown dissectors in Ethereal before 0.10.11 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (assert error) via an invalid protocol tree item length.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/29/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1460 represents a critical denial of service flaw affecting Ethereal network protocol analyzer versions prior to 0.10.11. This issue stems from improper handling of protocol tree items within the software's dissector architecture, which is responsible for parsing and interpreting network traffic. The vulnerability specifically targets the dissectors that process various network protocols, creating a scenario where malformed or invalid protocol tree item lengths can trigger assertion failures in the application's internal processing logic.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the absence of proper input validation within the dissector components of Ethereal. When the application encounters protocol tree items with invalid length parameters, the internal assertion checks fail, causing the program to terminate abruptly rather than gracefully handling the malformed data. This behavior constitutes a classic denial of service condition where an attacker can remotely exploit the application by crafting specifically formatted network packets that contain invalid protocol tree item lengths. The flaw operates at the protocol analysis layer, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect the entire network monitoring and analysis capabilities of systems relying on Ethereal for traffic inspection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can severely compromise network monitoring operations and security analysis activities. Organizations using Ethereal for network traffic analysis, intrusion detection, or forensic investigations would experience complete service outages when attackers exploit this vulnerability. The remote nature of the attack means that systems could be compromised without requiring physical access or local privileges, making it particularly attractive to malicious actors seeking to disrupt network operations. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad, potentially allowing attackers to deny legitimate users access to critical network monitoring services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate patching of Ethereal installations to version 0.10.11 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper input validation of protocol tree items. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring and intrusion detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts. The fix addresses the underlying CWE-129 vulnerability category related to insufficient input validation, which is classified under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure while patches are deployed, as well as establishing robust incident response procedures to handle potential exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in network protocol analysis tools, as the dissector architecture forms the core of network monitoring applications. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor validation issues in protocol parsing can result in complete service failures, emphasizing the need for comprehensive testing of protocol handling components. Security practitioners should recognize that network analysis tools represent critical infrastructure components where denial of service vulnerabilities can have cascading effects on overall network security posture. The remediation process requires careful consideration of the application's operational environment and may necessitate temporary workarounds while ensuring complete patch deployment across all affected systems.