CVE-2007-6119 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The DCP ETSI dissector in Wireshark (formerly Ethereal) 0.99.6 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (long loop and resource consumption) via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6119 affects the DCP ETSI dissector component within Wireshark version 0.99.6, representing a critical denial of service weakness that can be exploited remotely. This flaw specifically targets the protocol dissector responsible for analyzing Device Control Protocol (DCP) ETSI messages, which are used in industrial automation and communication systems. The vulnerability manifests when the dissector encounters malformed or specially crafted DCP ETSI packets that trigger excessive processing loops or resource consumption patterns within the network analysis tool.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and error handling within the dissector module. When Wireshark processes network traffic containing DCP ETSI data, the dissector attempts to parse and interpret specific packet structures without adequate safeguards against malformed data sequences. This deficiency creates opportunities for attackers to craft packets that cause the dissector to enter infinite or excessively long processing loops, consuming system resources such as cpu cycles and memory. The flaw operates at the application layer of the network stack and can be triggered through normal network traffic capture operations without requiring special privileges or authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can effectively render Wireshark unusable for network analysis purposes. Attackers can exploit this weakness to consume system resources rapidly, potentially causing the application to become unresponsive or crash entirely. This denial of service condition affects network administrators, security analysts, and forensic investigators who rely on Wireshark for network traffic analysis and troubleshooting. The vulnerability particularly impacts environments where continuous network monitoring is required, as it can be exploited to prevent legitimate network analysis activities and potentially mask other malicious network behavior.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-6119 should prioritize immediate software updates to patched versions of Wireshark where the dissector has been corrected to properly handle malformed input. System administrators should implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect unusual resource consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-248, which addresses "Uncaught Exception" conditions in software applications, and reflects patterns commonly found in the ATT&CK framework under the T1499 category for "Network Denial of Service" techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic and maintain regular security updates to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other protocol dissectors.