CVE-2008-5285 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
Wireshark 1.0.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a long SMTP request, which triggers an infinite loop.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5285 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Wireshark versions 1.0.4 and earlier. This issue manifests when the network protocol analyzer processes a specially crafted long SMTP request, leading to an infinite loop condition that consumes excessive system resources and ultimately renders the application unavailable to legitimate users. The flaw exists in the application's handling of SMTP protocol data within the packet capture and analysis framework, demonstrating a fundamental weakness in input validation and processing logic.
From a technical perspective, the vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking and loop termination conditions within Wireshark's SMTP dissector module. When processing an unusually long SMTP request, the application enters an infinite loop during protocol parsing, specifically in the routine responsible for handling multiline SMTP responses. This condition causes the processor to continuously execute the same code segment without proper exit conditions, leading to resource exhaustion and system instability. The flaw is categorized under CWE-835 as an infinite loop without a countermeasure, directly impacting the application's availability and reliability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication or specialized privileges. An attacker can simply craft a malicious SMTP packet with an excessively long request and transmit it to a target system running vulnerable Wireshark software. This attack vector is particularly concerning because it can be executed against any system that captures SMTP traffic, including network monitoring appliances, security tools, and endpoint devices. The infinite loop condition effectively prevents the system from processing subsequent packets, creating a cascading denial of service that can impact network visibility and security monitoring capabilities.
The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1498, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1566, covering phishing with malicious attachments, as the attack can be delivered through network traffic analysis. Organizations using Wireshark for network monitoring and security analysis face significant risk exposure, as the tool becomes unavailable during active attacks. The impact is particularly severe in environments where continuous network monitoring is critical, such as security operations centers, incident response teams, and compliance monitoring systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and robust error handling in network security tools, as these applications must be resilient against malformed data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5285 require immediate patching of affected Wireshark installations to version 1.0.5 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the infinite loop condition. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect unusual processing patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The fix addresses the core issue by implementing proper loop termination conditions and enhanced input validation within the SMTP dissector module. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments and security updates to prevent similar issues in other network analysis tools.