CVE-2008-1562 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The LDAP dissector in Wireshark (formerly Ethereal) 0.99.2 through 0.99.8 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a malformed packet, a different vulnerability than CVE-2006-5740.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1562 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the LDAP dissector component of Wireshark, formerly known as Ethereal. This vulnerability affects versions 0.99.2 through 0.99.8 of the network protocol analyzer, creating a significant security risk for network administrators and cybersecurity professionals who rely on this tool for network traffic analysis and monitoring. The flaw specifically targets the application's ability to process Lightweight Directory Access Protocol packets, which are commonly used for directory services in enterprise environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the LDAP dissector module. When Wireshark encounters a malformed LDAP packet during network traffic analysis, the application fails to properly handle the unexpected data structure, leading to an application crash. This occurs because the dissector lacks proper bounds checking and error handling mechanisms when processing malformed packet data. The vulnerability manifests as a buffer overflow condition or improper memory management when the application attempts to parse the malformed LDAP protocol elements, causing the application to terminate unexpectedly and rendering the network analysis tool unusable for the duration of the session.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can severely compromise network monitoring capabilities for organizations relying on Wireshark for security operations. Network administrators who use this tool for real-time traffic analysis, incident response, or network troubleshooting could experience complete tool failure when encountering malicious or malformed LDAP traffic. This creates a cascading effect where security teams lose visibility into network communications, potentially masking ongoing attacks or preventing proper forensic analysis of network incidents. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where LDAP traffic is common, such as those utilizing Active Directory services or other directory-based authentication systems.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of insufficient input validation. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a Denial of Service technique, specifically within the T1499 sub-technique of Network Denial of Service, where adversaries exploit application flaws to disrupt network operations. The vulnerability demonstrates how protocol analysis tools themselves can become attack vectors when they fail to properly sanitize input data from network traffic. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including patching to the latest stable versions of Wireshark, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure to potentially malicious LDAP traffic, and establishing redundant monitoring tools to ensure continuous network visibility. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malformed LDAP packets before they reach the Wireshark analysis environment.