CVE-2011-4101 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The dissect_infiniband_common function in epan/dissectors/packet-infiniband.c in the Infiniband dissector in Wireshark 1.4.0 through 1.4.9 and 1.6.x before 1.6.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and application crash) via a malformed packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-4101 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Infiniband dissector component of Wireshark, a widely used network protocol analyzer. This vulnerability affects specific versions of Wireshark including 1.4.0 through 1.4.9 and 1.6.x versions prior to 1.6.3, making it a significant concern for network security professionals who rely on Wireshark for network traffic analysis and monitoring. The flaw manifests in the dissect_infiniband_common function which is responsible for parsing and analyzing Infiniband protocol packets within the network capture files.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a null pointer dereference condition that occurs when the dissect_infiniband_common function processes malformed Infiniband packets. When Wireshark encounters a specially crafted malformed packet during network capture analysis, the function fails to properly validate input data structures before attempting to access memory locations. This improper validation leads to a situation where the application attempts to dereference a null pointer, causing an immediate application crash and subsequent denial of service. The vulnerability specifically targets the protocol dissector layer of Wireshark, which is responsible for interpreting and displaying network packet information to users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, as it provides remote attackers with a means to disrupt network monitoring and analysis operations. Network administrators and security analysts who use Wireshark for troubleshooting network issues, conducting security assessments, or monitoring network traffic could experience complete service interruption when processing maliciously crafted Infiniband packets. This disruption can occur in various scenarios including passive network monitoring, forensic analysis of network captures, or during security incident response activities where Wireshark is utilized for packet inspection. The vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to remotely compromise the availability of network analysis tools that are critical for maintaining network security posture.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which specifically addresses null pointer dereference conditions in software applications. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the importance of robust error handling in protocol dissector implementations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the T1499.004 technique related to network denial of service attacks, where adversaries exploit software vulnerabilities to disrupt network services. Organizations relying on Wireshark for network security operations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader threat landscape assessment and implement appropriate defensive measures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4101 primarily focus on immediate software updates and version management practices. The most effective remediation involves upgrading to Wireshark versions 1.4.10, 1.6.3, or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the null pointer dereference issue. Network security teams should also implement network segmentation and packet filtering measures to prevent the transmission of malformed Infiniband packets to systems running vulnerable versions of Wireshark. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on unusual packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments and patch management procedures should be enhanced to ensure timely remediation of similar protocol dissector vulnerabilities across all network analysis tools in use.