CVE-2011-3369 in EtherApe
Summary
by MITRE
The add_conversation function in conversations.c in EtherApe before 0.9.12 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and application crash) via an RPC packet, related to the get_rpc function in decode_proto.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3369 represents a critical denial of service flaw affecting EtherApe network analysis software versions prior to 0.9.12. This issue manifests through the add_conversation function within the conversations.c file, which processes network traffic data for visualization purposes. The vulnerability specifically exploits a NULL pointer dereference condition that occurs when handling Remote Procedure Call (RPC) packets, creating a scenario where legitimate network monitoring operations can be disrupted by maliciously crafted input.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the network protocol decoding process. When EtherApe encounters an RPC packet, the get_rpc function in decode_proto.c fails to properly validate the packet structure before attempting to process it through the add_conversation function. This lack of proper bounds checking and null validation creates a condition where a NULL pointer reference can occur, leading to an application crash and subsequent denial of service. The flaw operates at the protocol decoding layer, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered by any network traffic containing malformed RPC packets regardless of the underlying network protocol being monitored.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to network monitoring infrastructure that relies on EtherApe for traffic analysis. Attackers can exploit this weakness by simply sending carefully crafted RPC packets to a system running vulnerable EtherApe software, causing the application to crash and terminate its monitoring functions. This disruption can result in complete loss of network visibility for the affected system, potentially leaving network administrators unaware of ongoing malicious activity or network anomalies. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it compromises the integrity of network monitoring operations that are critical for security incident response and network management activities.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions in software implementations, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to system instability. From an adversary perspective, this flaw maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which involves network disruption through service availability attacks, making it particularly attractive for attackers seeking to disrupt network monitoring capabilities. Organizations utilizing EtherApe for network traffic analysis should prioritize immediate remediation through version updates to 0.9.12 or later, as the fix addresses the underlying null pointer dereference issue. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of EtherApe systems to untrusted network traffic can serve as a temporary mitigation strategy while maintaining operational security posture.