CVE-2010-2285 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The SMB PIPE dissector in Wireshark 0.8.20 through 1.0.13 and 1.2.0 through 1.2.8 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference) via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2285 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Wireshark's SMB PIPE protocol dissector. This issue affects Wireshark versions ranging from 0.8.20 through 1.0.13 and 1.2.0 through 1.2.8, creating a significant security risk for network analysis environments that rely on this packet analysis tool. The flaw manifests as a NULL pointer dereference condition that can be triggered by remote attackers through unspecified vectors, potentially disrupting network monitoring operations and compromising the availability of critical network analysis infrastructure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the SMB PIPE dissector component of Wireshark. When processing certain malformed or crafted SMB PIPE protocol traffic, the dissector fails to properly handle NULL pointer references, leading to a crash of the Wireshark application. This behavior aligns with CWE-476, which describes NULL pointer dereference vulnerabilities, and represents a classic example of inadequate error handling in network protocol analysis tools. The vulnerability operates at the application layer of the OSI model, specifically within the presentation layer protocol parsing functionality that Wireshark employs to dissect network traffic.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents substantial risk to network security operations and incident response capabilities. Network administrators and security analysts who depend on Wireshark for network traffic analysis face potential disruption when attackers exploit this flaw, as it can cause the application to terminate unexpectedly. This denial of service condition effectively renders the network monitoring tool unavailable during critical security events, potentially preventing security teams from analyzing malicious network traffic or conducting forensic investigations. The remote attack vector means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where network monitoring tools are widely deployed.
The impact extends beyond simple application crashes to encompass broader network security implications. Organizations that rely on Wireshark for network traffic analysis, intrusion detection, and security auditing may experience service interruptions that compromise their ability to maintain network visibility and security posture. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where automated network monitoring systems depend on Wireshark for real-time traffic analysis, as any disruption could mask actual security incidents or prevent timely response to network threats. The flaw also demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and error handling in security tools, as protocol dissectors must be robust against malformed data that could originate from network attackers or network anomalies.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2285 primarily focus on immediate version updates and temporary operational measures. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to Wireshark versions that contain the fix for this vulnerability, typically found in versions released after the vulnerability disclosure. Network administrators should implement monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability's remote nature makes it susceptible to automated attack tools. Temporary mitigation approaches include configuring network access controls to limit exposure of Wireshark instances to untrusted networks and implementing network segmentation to reduce the attack surface. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing alternative network monitoring solutions as backup measures to ensure continuous network visibility during the remediation process. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping security tools updated and the necessity of robust input validation in protocol analysis software to prevent denial of service conditions that can compromise network security operations.