CVE-2011-1591 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the DECT dissector in epan/dissectors/packet-dect.c in Wireshark 1.4.x before 1.4.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted .pcap file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1591 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw within the DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) dissector component of Wireshark version 1.4.x prior to 1.4.5. This vulnerability exists in the packet-dect.c file located within the epan/dissectors directory structure of the Wireshark source code repository. The flaw specifically manifests when the network protocol dissector attempts to process malformed DECT protocol data contained within specially crafted .pcap files, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to gain arbitrary code execution privileges on systems running vulnerable versions of Wireshark.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking within the DECT dissector implementation. When Wireshark processes a .pcap file containing DECT protocol data, the dissector function fails to properly validate the length of incoming data fields before copying them into fixed-size stack buffers. This oversight creates a classic stack-based buffer overflow condition where an attacker can overwrite adjacent stack memory locations including return addresses and function pointers. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the protocol decoding layer, meaning that simply opening a maliciously crafted .pcap file with Wireshark can trigger the overflow condition without requiring any additional user interaction or network communication.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to network security analysts and forensic investigators who rely on Wireshark for network traffic analysis. Attackers can craft .pcap files containing malicious DECT protocol data that, when opened in vulnerable versions of Wireshark, will execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application. This could result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the installation of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where network traffic analysis tools are widely deployed and where analysts may inadvertently open malicious packet captures during forensic investigations or security assessments.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is straightforward and remote in nature, as it requires only the delivery of a specially crafted .pcap file to a victim running a vulnerable version of Wireshark. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, as the attacker can leverage the normal operation of Wireshark to execute malicious code. The vulnerability also maps to CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflow conditions where data is copied into a stack buffer without proper bounds checking. Organizations using Wireshark for network monitoring, incident response, or security analysis are particularly at risk since these tools are commonly used in security operations centers and forensic investigations where exposure to untrusted packet captures is routine.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate patching of affected systems to upgrade to Wireshark version 1.4.5 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to prevent the buffer overflow condition. Network security teams should also implement strict file validation policies for packet capture files, particularly those received from untrusted sources or during forensic investigations. Additional protective measures include running Wireshark with reduced privileges, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, and conducting regular security assessments to identify potentially vulnerable systems. The fix typically involves implementing proper input validation and bounds checking within the DECT dissector code to ensure that data fields are properly validated before being copied into stack buffers, preventing the overflow condition that enables arbitrary code execution.