CVE-2005-3243 in Ethereal
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in Ethereal 0.10.12 and earlier might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors in the (1) SLIMP3 and (2) AgentX dissector.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/10/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-3243 represents a critical security flaw affecting Ethereal version 0.10.12 and earlier, which is a network protocol analyzer tool that was later renamed Wireshark. This vulnerability manifests as multiple buffer overflows within the software's dissectors, specifically targeting the SLIMP3 and AgentX protocol parsers. Buffer overflow vulnerabilities occur when a program attempts to write data beyond the allocated boundaries of a fixed-length buffer, creating potential entry points for malicious code execution. The affected dissector components are responsible for parsing and interpreting network traffic data, making them prime targets for exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the protocol parsing functions of Ethereal's network analysis engine. When processing specially crafted network packets containing malformed data for SLIMP3 or AgentX protocols, the dissector code fails to properly bounds-check data inputs before copying them into fixed-size memory buffers. This flaw allows attackers to overflow these buffers and potentially overwrite adjacent memory regions, including return addresses and control data. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The exploitability of such vulnerabilities is significantly enhanced when the attacker can control the input data and manipulate the program execution flow.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-3243 is severe and potentially catastrophic for systems running vulnerable versions of Ethereal. Remote attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on systems where Ethereal is installed and running, particularly in environments where network traffic analysis is performed. This includes enterprise networks, security monitoring systems, and forensic analysis workstations. The vulnerability could be exploited through passive network monitoring scenarios where Ethereal processes network traffic from untrusted sources, such as public network segments or compromised network nodes. Attackers could craft malicious packets containing oversized or malformed data for SLIMP3 or AgentX protocols, causing the application to crash or, more dangerously, to execute malicious code with the privileges of the user running Ethereal. This represents a significant threat to network security infrastructure, as Ethereal was commonly used in security operations centers and forensic investigations, making the impact of exploitation far-reaching.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3243 primarily focus on immediate software updates and system hardening measures. The most effective approach is upgrading to Ethereal version 0.10.13 or later, where the buffer overflow vulnerabilities have been addressed through proper bounds checking and input validation. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, ensuring that Ethereal is not run with elevated privileges and that it only processes traffic from trusted sources. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect and alert on suspicious protocol traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems with signature-based detection for known exploit patterns can provide early warning capabilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving code injection and privilege escalation, specifically mapping to T1059 for command and script injection and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized execution of vulnerable software versions and conduct regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in network analysis tools and other protocol parsing applications.