CVE-2009-3242 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in packet.c in the GSM A RR dissector in Wireshark 1.2.0 and 1.2.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via unknown vectors related to "an uninitialized dissector handle," which triggers an assertion failure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3242 represents a critical denial of service weakness within Wireshark's GSM A RR dissector component. This issue specifically affects versions 1.2.0 and 1.2.1 of the popular network protocol analyzer, where an uninitialized dissector handle creates a scenario that can be exploited by remote attackers to crash the application. The vulnerability resides in the packet.c file within the GSM A RR dissector module, which is responsible for parsing and analyzing GSM A interface radio resources messages. When processing malformed or specially crafted network packets, the dissector fails to properly initialize a handle variable, leading to unpredictable behavior that ultimately results in application termination.
The technical flaw manifests as an assertion failure that occurs during packet processing when the dissector encounters certain packet structures. This uninitialized handle creates a condition where memory access violations or invalid pointer dereferences can occur, causing the application to crash and terminate unexpectedly. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers can trigger this condition without requiring local access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous in network monitoring scenarios where Wireshark might be processing traffic from untrusted sources. The assertion failure represents a fundamental breakdown in the dissector's error handling mechanisms, as the code does not properly validate or initialize required variables before use, which directly relates to CWE-457: Use of Uninitialized Variable.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network security operations and monitoring infrastructure. When Wireshark crashes due to this vulnerability, it disrupts network analysis capabilities and can potentially go unnoticed by security teams monitoring network traffic. The denial of service condition affects not only the immediate analysis session but can also impact larger network monitoring systems that rely on continuous packet capture and analysis. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where Wireshark is used for intrusion detection, network forensics, or security auditing, as the application crash can result in loss of critical network visibility and potential security gaps during the time when the application is down.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-3242 primarily involve upgrading to patched versions of Wireshark where the uninitialized dissector handle issue has been resolved. Network administrators should prioritize updating their Wireshark installations to versions that have addressed this specific vulnerability, as the fix typically involves proper initialization of the dissector handle variable and enhanced error handling routines. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit exposure by restricting which systems have access to potentially malicious network traffic that could trigger this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing redundant monitoring solutions or backup analysis tools to maintain network visibility during potential service disruptions. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and variable initialization in network protocol analysis tools, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499.001: Network Denial of Service, where adversaries can exploit software weaknesses to disrupt network operations through application crashes.