CVE-2007-6115 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the ANSI MAP dissector for Wireshark (formerly Ethereal) 0.99.5 to 0.99.6, when running on unspecified platforms, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6115 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the ANSI MAP dissector component of Wireshark, formerly known as Ethereal, affecting versions 0.99.5 through 0.99.6. This issue resides within the network protocol analysis software's packet parsing functionality, specifically targeting the dissector responsible for interpreting ANSI MAP (Message Access Protocol) traffic. The vulnerability manifests when the application processes malformed or specially crafted network packets that trigger improper memory handling during protocol interpretation. The affected dissector fails to properly validate input data lengths before copying them into fixed-size buffers, creating conditions where attacker-controlled data can overflow allocated memory regions. This particular flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows data to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enabling remote code execution, making it particularly dangerous in network monitoring environments where Wireshark is deployed to analyze traffic from untrusted sources.
The operational implications of CVE-2007-6115 are severe given Wireshark's widespread use in network security operations, forensic analysis, and protocol debugging across enterprise and organizational networks. When exploited, this vulnerability allows remote attackers to craft malicious network traffic that, when analyzed by an affected Wireshark instance, can cause the application to crash or potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no special privileges or authentication to exploit, making it suitable for automated attacks against network monitoring systems. In environments where Wireshark is used for continuous network monitoring or security auditing, this vulnerability could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical network analysis infrastructure. The unspecified platforms mentioned in the original description suggest that the vulnerability affects multiple operating systems where Wireshark is deployed, amplifying the potential attack surface. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 which covers network service scanning and T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as the vulnerability could enable attackers to establish persistent access through compromised monitoring infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-6115 primarily focus on immediate version updates and operational security measures to protect against exploitation. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to Wireshark versions 0.99.7 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the buffer overflow conditions in the ANSI MAP dissector. The patch implementation addresses the root cause by introducing proper bounds checking and input validation before memory operations occur, effectively preventing the overflow conditions that lead to crashes or code execution. Network administrators should also implement defensive measures such as restricting network access to Wireshark instances, particularly in environments where untrusted traffic might be analyzed without proper filtering. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of monitoring infrastructure to potentially malicious traffic sources. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation in network protocol analysis tools, where improper handling of protocol data can create severe security implications. Organizations should also establish robust patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all network monitoring and analysis systems. The incident highlights the necessity of following secure coding practices and conducting thorough code reviews for protocol dissector implementations, as these components form the core of network analysis tools and represent prime targets for exploitation.