CVE-2006-3628 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple format string vulnerabilities in Wireshark (aka Ethereal) 0.10.x to 0.99.0 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via the (1) ANSI MAP, (2) Checkpoint FW-1, (3) MQ, (4) XML, and (5) NTP dissectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3628 represents a critical security flaw in Wireshark versions 0.10.x through 0.99.0 that exposes multiple format string vulnerabilities across several protocol dissectors. This issue affects the network protocol analysis tool that is widely used by security professionals and network administrators for packet capture and analysis. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of user-supplied data within the dissectors responsible for parsing specific network protocols, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit these weaknesses through crafted network traffic.
Format string vulnerabilities occur when an application uses user input directly in format functions without proper validation or sanitization, allowing attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute arbitrary code. In this case, the five affected dissectors - ANSI MAP, Checkpoint FW-1, MQ, XML, and NTP - all contain instances where format string functions are called with attacker-controlled data, creating a pathway for remote code execution. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects core protocol parsing functionality that Wireshark uses to analyze network traffic, meaning that simply opening a maliciously crafted capture file or analyzing specific network packets could trigger the exploit.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it provides potential for remote code execution on systems running affected versions of Wireshark. Attackers could craft malicious network traffic or packet captures that, when processed by the vulnerable dissectors, would allow them to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Wireshark. This creates significant risk for security professionals who may inadvertently analyze malicious traffic during forensic investigations or network troubleshooting activities. The vulnerability affects both the analysis of live network traffic and packet capture files, making it particularly dangerous in environments where automated analysis tools might process untrusted data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with common weaknesses categorized under CWE-134, which specifically addresses format string vulnerabilities in software applications. The ATT&CK framework would classify this vulnerability under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and potentially T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables attackers to execute code on target systems through the network analysis tool. Organizations using Wireshark for network monitoring, forensic analysis, and security auditing are particularly at risk since these tools are often run with elevated privileges and may process traffic from untrusted sources without proper sanitization. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper parameter handling in network protocol analysis tools, where the processing of network data must be robust against maliciously crafted inputs.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Wireshark installations to versions that address the format string issues in the identified dissectors. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to prevent untrusted traffic from reaching systems running Wireshark. Additionally, organizations should establish secure practices for handling packet captures, including validation of file origins and implementation of sandboxed analysis environments. The vulnerability underscores the necessity of regular security updates and the importance of maintaining current versions of network analysis tools to protect against known exploits that could compromise security operations and forensic capabilities.