CVE-2011-1958 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
Wireshark 1.2.x before 1.2.17 and 1.4.x before 1.4.7 allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and application crash) via a crafted Diameter dictionary file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1958 represents a critical denial of service weakness in Wireshark network protocol analyzer versions prior to 1.2.17 and 1.4.7. This issue stems from insufficient input validation within the Diameter protocol dictionary processing functionality, where the application fails to properly handle malformed or crafted dictionary files. The flaw manifests as a NULL pointer dereference condition that occurs when Wireshark attempts to parse specially constructed Diameter dictionary entries, leading to application instability and potential system crashes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the protocol dissector component responsible for parsing Diameter protocol information. When a user loads a maliciously crafted Diameter dictionary file, the parser encounters malformed data structures that trigger an unhandled NULL pointer access. This condition falls under CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference vulnerabilities in software applications. The attack vector requires user interaction since an attacker must convince a victim to load the malicious dictionary file, making this a user-assisted remote attack rather than an autonomous system compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1203, where adversaries exploit weaknesses in application parsing logic to cause system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can compromise the integrity of network analysis operations critical for security monitoring and incident response activities. Network security analysts who rely on Wireshark for protocol analysis may find their investigative capabilities severely hampered when encountering this denial of service condition. The application crash resulting from this vulnerability can lead to loss of valuable network traffic captures and potentially expose the system to additional risks during recovery operations. Organizations utilizing Wireshark for network monitoring, forensics, or security auditing purposes face significant operational risk when systems remain vulnerable to this specific attack pattern.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1958 primarily focus on immediate software updates to patched versions of Wireshark. Users should upgrade to Wireshark 1.2.17 or 1.4.7 and later releases where the parsing logic has been corrected to properly handle malformed dictionary files. Additionally, administrators should implement strict file access controls and validation procedures for any dictionary files loaded into the application. Network security teams should consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect abnormal application behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and error handling in protocol parsing components, reinforcing industry best practices for secure coding standards and defensive programming techniques that align with CWE guidelines for preventing null pointer dereference conditions.