CVE-2007-3390 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
Wireshark 0.99.5 and 0.10.x up to 0.10.14, when running on certain systems, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via crafted iSeries capture files that trigger a SIGTRAP.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3390 represents a critical denial of service flaw in Wireshark versions 0.99.5 and 0.10.x up to 0.10.14. This issue specifically affects systems where the application processes iSeries capture files, which are typically used for network traffic analysis and troubleshooting in enterprise environments. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the packet parsing routines that process these specialized capture formats. When a maliciously crafted iSeries file is loaded into Wireshark, the application fails to properly validate the file structure, leading to unexpected behavior during processing.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs through the exploitation of a buffer overread condition that triggers a SIGTRAP signal on affected systems. This signal causes the application to terminate abruptly, resulting in a complete crash of the Wireshark process. The flaw operates at the protocol dissector level where Wireshark attempts to parse the iSeries capture file format, specifically when encountering malformed or specially crafted data structures within the file headers or payload sections. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, which is classified as a memory safety issue that can lead to application instability and potential information disclosure.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents significant risks to network security teams and system administrators who rely on Wireshark for network monitoring and incident response activities. The remote nature of the attack means that an attacker could potentially compromise network analysis capabilities without physical access to the target system. This creates a scenario where legitimate network monitoring activities could be disrupted, potentially masking actual security incidents or preventing timely detection of network anomalies. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Wireshark is commonly used for troubleshooting and security analysis.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can be leveraged to create a denial of service condition that affects network operations and security monitoring capabilities. Attackers could potentially use this flaw to disrupt network analysis activities during security incidents or to prevent forensic analysis of network traffic. The vulnerability demonstrates a lack of proper input sanitization and error handling in the packet analysis framework, which is a fundamental requirement for network security tools. Organizations using affected Wireshark versions should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to patched versions, implementing network segmentation, and establishing alternative monitoring procedures. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001: Endpoint Denial of Service, which focuses on disrupting endpoint systems through various means including application crashes and resource exhaustion. The flaw underscores the importance of robust input validation and proper error handling in security tools, as these applications must be resilient to malicious inputs to maintain their effectiveness in network security operations.