CVE-2007-6114 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in Wireshark (formerly Ethereal) 0.99.0 through 0.99.6 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via (1) the SSL dissector or (2) the iSeries (OS/400) Communication trace file parser.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6114 represents a critical security flaw in Wireshark versions 0.99.0 through 0.99.6 that exposes the network analysis tool to remote exploitation. This vulnerability affects the SSL dissector and the iSeries Communication trace file parser components, both of which are essential for network protocol analysis and troubleshooting. The flaw stems from improper input validation and memory handling within these dissectors, creating conditions where malformed data can trigger buffer overflow conditions that compromise system stability and potentially enable remote code execution.
Buffer overflow vulnerabilities in network protocol dissectors pose significant risks as they can be exploited through crafted network traffic or malformed packet captures. The SSL dissector vulnerability specifically targets the handling of SSL/TLS protocol data, while the iSeries parser flaw affects the processing of IBM OS/400 communication trace files. These components are frequently used in network forensics and security analysis, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to disrupt network monitoring operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow scenarios that can occur during protocol parsing operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-6114 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable remote code execution, making it particularly dangerous in network monitoring environments. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause Wireshark to crash, resulting in service disruption for network analysts and security professionals who rely on the tool for network traffic analysis. In the worst-case scenario, attackers could leverage these buffer overflows to execute arbitrary code on systems running vulnerable Wireshark versions, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack vectors involve sending specially crafted data to the affected dissectors, which could occur during normal network traffic analysis or when processing captured network data files.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected Wireshark versions to 0.99.7 or later, which contain fixes for the identified buffer overflow conditions. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable systems, while monitoring for suspicious network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, and T1499, covering network disruption attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing network traffic analysis tools with built-in input validation and memory protection mechanisms to reduce the attack surface. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in other network analysis tools and protocol parsers.