CVE-2006-5469 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the WBXML dissector in Wireshark (formerly Ethereal) 0.10.11 through 0.99.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via certain vectors that trigger a null dereference.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-5469 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the WBXML dissector component of Wireshark, formerly known as Ethereal. This vulnerability affects versions ranging from 0.10.11 through 0.99.3, indicating a significant timeframe of exposure where network forensics analysts and security professionals using these versions were at risk. The WBXML dissector is responsible for parsing Wireless Binary XML format data, which is commonly encountered in mobile device communications and wireless protocols. This particular vulnerability manifests as a null dereference condition that occurs when processing specially crafted WBXML data streams.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the WBXML dissector encounters malformed or unexpected data structures within the wireless binary xml format. A null dereference vulnerability typically arises when software attempts to access memory at a null pointer location, causing the application to crash and terminate unexpectedly. In the context of Wireshark, this means that when analyzing network traffic containing maliciously crafted WBXML data, the application fails to properly validate input data before attempting to parse it. The flaw essentially creates a scenario where the dissector code does not adequately check for null pointers or invalid data structures before proceeding with memory operations, leading to an abrupt application termination.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network security analysts and forensic investigators who rely on Wireshark for network traffic analysis. The denial of service impact means that attackers can remotely disrupt the analysis process by simply crafting and transmitting malicious WBXML data to a system running vulnerable Wireshark versions. This creates a scenario where legitimate network monitoring and incident response activities can be interrupted, potentially leading to missed security events or compromised forensic investigations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through passive network monitoring, meaning that simply capturing network traffic containing the malicious data can cause the application to crash without requiring any active interaction from the user.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476, which specifically addresses NULL Pointer Dereference, a common weakness in software development where programs fail to properly validate pointers before using them. This weakness is particularly dangerous in network analysis tools because these applications often process untrusted data from various sources without sufficient input validation. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to several techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to Denial of Service and Network Sniffing. The attack vector is classified as remote since attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending malicious network packets to systems running vulnerable versions, making it a significant concern for organizations that depend on network traffic analysis for security monitoring.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate version upgrades to patched releases of Wireshark, as the vulnerability was resolved in subsequent versions of the software. Network administrators and security teams should prioritize updating their Wireshark installations to versions that contain the necessary fixes for the WBXML dissector. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and traffic filtering to prevent the injection of malicious WBXML data can serve as temporary protective measures. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining current security tool versions and implementing robust input validation mechanisms in network analysis applications to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.