CVE-2008-3934 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Wireshark (formerly Ethereal) 0.99.6 through 1.0.2 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a crafted Tektronix .rf5 file.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3934 represents a critical denial of service weakness in Wireshark versions 0.99.6 through 1.0.2 that specifically targets the application's handling of Tektronix .rf5 file format parsing. This issue demonstrates the inherent risks associated with protocol analysis tools that must process diverse and potentially malicious data formats from various network equipment vendors. The vulnerability arises from inadequate input validation and error handling mechanisms within the Wireshark packet analysis engine when encountering malformed Tektronix .rf5 files, which are commonly used by network monitoring equipment for storing captured network traffic data.
The technical flaw manifests as a buffer overflow or memory corruption condition that occurs during the parsing of specific fields within the Tektronix .rf5 file structure. When Wireshark attempts to process a crafted .rf5 file containing malformed headers, oversized data fields, or invalid metadata, the application fails to properly validate the input boundaries before attempting to allocate memory or process the data. This improper handling leads to memory corruption that ultimately results in application crash and termination. The vulnerability operates at the application layer parsing level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through normal file processing operations without requiring special privileges or network access. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-3934 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be exploited in various attack scenarios that leverage the widespread use of Wireshark in network security operations. An attacker could craft malicious .rf5 files and distribute them through social engineering campaigns, phishing emails, or compromised websites, leading to unintended application crashes on systems where Wireshark is installed. This vulnerability particularly affects network security professionals and analysts who regularly process network capture files from various sources, as it can be triggered by legitimate network equipment files that have been tampered with or corrupted during transmission. The attack surface is broadened by the fact that Wireshark is commonly used in enterprise environments, educational institutions, and security research organizations, making the potential impact of this denial of service condition significant across multiple operational domains.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3934 primarily focus on immediate software updates and operational procedures. The most effective solution involves upgrading to Wireshark versions 1.0.3 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through improved input validation and memory handling mechanisms. Network security teams should implement strict file validation procedures before processing any .rf5 files, particularly those received from external sources or from unknown origins. The implementation of file integrity checks and sandboxed processing environments can provide additional layers of protection against potentially malicious file content. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques categorized under T1499, which describes adversary tactics involving disruption of services, and T1059, which addresses execution through various file formats. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially compromised file processing environments, while maintaining regular security updates and vulnerability assessments to prevent similar issues from arising in other components of their network monitoring infrastructure.