CVE-2009-3829 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in wiretap/erf.c in Wireshark before 1.2.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted erf file, related to an "unsigned integer wrap vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-3829 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within Wireshark's packet capture analysis software that affects versions prior to 1.2.2. This vulnerability specifically resides in the wiretap/erf.c component which handles Enhanced Recording Format file processing. The flaw manifests as an unsigned integer wrap vulnerability that occurs when processing maliciously crafted erf files, creating a scenario where legitimate integer arithmetic operations result in values that exceed the maximum representable range for unsigned integers, thereby causing unexpected behavior in the application's memory management and processing logic.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of file size calculations when reading erf files that contain malformed header data. When Wireshark attempts to parse these files, it performs arithmetic operations on unsigned integer values that represent file offsets, buffer sizes, or packet lengths. Under normal circumstances, these calculations should produce predictable results, but when attackers craft erf files with carefully manipulated values, the unsigned integer arithmetic can overflow and wrap around to much smaller values. This wraparound behavior causes the application to allocate insufficient memory buffers or attempt to access memory regions that are beyond the intended boundaries, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited for arbitrary code execution or forced application termination.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to network security analysts and forensic investigators who rely on Wireshark for packet analysis and network traffic examination. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can potentially compromise systems simply by enticing users to open maliciously crafted erf files, which could occur through email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Wireshark, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-190, which describes integer overflow and underflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for application execution through fileless malware delivery mechanisms.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate upgrading to Wireshark version 1.2.2 or later, which includes patches that properly validate integer values and implement bounds checking before performing arithmetic operations. Additionally, security practitioners should implement strict file validation procedures, particularly when processing files from untrusted sources, and consider employing sandboxing techniques to isolate packet analysis operations. Network administrators should also consider implementing network-based detection rules that can identify and block suspicious erf file traffic, while security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to ensure all network analysis tools remain updated against known vulnerabilities. The fix implemented in the patched version typically involves adding explicit checks for potential integer overflow conditions and ensuring that all file size calculations are properly validated before any memory allocation or processing occurs.