CVE-2007-1650 in pcapsipdump
Summary
by MITRE
pcapsipdump.cpp in pcapsipdump before 0.1.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a malformed SIP packet, which results in a NULL pointer dereference.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1650 affects pcapsipdump, a tool designed for capturing and analyzing Session Initiation Protocol traffic. This particular flaw exists in versions prior to 0.1.3 and represents a classic denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited remotely by attackers sending malformed SIP packets to the affected system. The issue stems from inadequate input validation within the pcapsipdump.cpp source file, specifically in how the application processes SIP packet data. When a malformed SIP packet is received, the application fails to properly handle the unexpected data structure, leading to a NULL pointer dereference condition that ultimately causes the application to crash and terminate unexpectedly.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in software error handling and memory management practices. The NULL pointer dereference occurs when the pcapsipdump application attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly initialized or allocated, typically when processing SIP headers or body content that does not conform to expected formats. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-476, which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereferences as a critical class of software defects. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows remote attackers to trigger application instability without requiring authentication or privileged access, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to disrupt service availability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations that rely on pcapsipdump for network monitoring and security analysis of SIP communications. The remote denial of service capability means that attackers can potentially disrupt legitimate network monitoring activities, leading to gaps in security visibility and potential blind spots in network traffic analysis. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability aspect of the CIA triad by compromising system uptime and service reliability. The attack vector is particularly dangerous in environments where SIP-based communication systems are critical for business operations, as the crash could occur at any time and potentially during critical communication periods.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially compromise the integrity of network monitoring operations. Organizations using affected versions of pcapsipdump may experience intermittent service disruptions that could mask other security incidents or make it difficult to maintain continuous monitoring of SIP traffic patterns. The vulnerability also represents a potential entry point for more sophisticated attacks, as the application crash could be used as a distraction while attackers pursue other objectives. Mitigation strategies should include immediate upgrading to pcapsipdump version 0.1.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly validate SIP packet structures and handle malformed input gracefully. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of the affected application to untrusted networks, following the principle of least privilege as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks. Network administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can monitor for abnormal SIP traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1498 which covers network denial of service attacks.