CVE-2008-4685 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the dissect_q931_cause_ie function in packet-q931.c in the Q.931 dissector in Wireshark 0.10.3 through 1.0.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash or abort) via certain packets that trigger an exception.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2019
The CVE-2008-4685 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition within Wireshark's Q.931 dissector component, specifically in the dissect_q931_cause_ie function located in packet-q931.c. This flaw exists in Wireshark versions ranging from 0.10.3 through 1.0.3, creating a significant security risk for network analysis tools that rely on proper packet parsing. The vulnerability manifests when processing specially crafted Q.931 protocol packets, which are commonly used in telecommunications networks for signaling purposes, particularly in ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) environments where they handle call setup and teardown procedures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic use-after-free scenario where memory that has been freed is subsequently accessed during the processing of Q.931 cause information elements. When an attacker crafts malicious packets containing malformed Q.931 data, the dissect_q931_cause_ie function fails to properly validate memory references, leading to a situation where freed memory locations are accessed, resulting in undefined behavior and application instability. This memory management error occurs during the protocol dissection phase of packet analysis, where Wireshark attempts to parse and display the contents of Q.931 signaling messages. The flaw operates at the application layer of the network stack, specifically within the dissector framework that translates binary packet data into human-readable format for network analysts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can lead to complete application crashes and potential system instability for network security professionals who rely on Wireshark for packet analysis. When exploited, the vulnerability allows remote attackers to cause application aborts or crashes, effectively disrupting network monitoring operations and potentially compromising the availability of critical network analysis tools. This represents a significant concern for security operations centers and network administrators who depend on Wireshark for troubleshooting and security analysis. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that an attacker positioned anywhere on the network can trigger the condition without requiring local access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where network monitoring tools are continuously processing traffic from multiple sources.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software implementations. The flaw demonstrates poor memory management practices and inadequate input validation within the dissector framework, highlighting the importance of proper resource management in network protocol analysis tools. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, as the exploitation results in application disruption and service unavailability. Organizations using affected Wireshark versions should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to patched versions, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, and monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of regular software updates and proper security testing in network analysis tools that handle untrusted data from network traffic, as these tools often serve as the primary interface for security professionals to monitor and analyze network communications across enterprise environments.