CVE-2012-0067 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
wiretap/iptrace.c in Wireshark 1.4.x before 1.4.11 and 1.6.x before 1.6.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a long packet in an AIX iptrace file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0067 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Wireshark's packet analysis capabilities, specifically affecting versions 1.4.x prior to 1.4.11 and 1.6.x prior to 1.6.5. This issue stems from inadequate input validation in the wiretap/iptrace.c component, which is responsible for reading and processing iptrace files generated by AIX operating systems. The vulnerability manifests when Wireshark encounters a malformed packet within an iptrace file that exceeds predetermined buffer limits, leading to application instability and potential system crashes. This flaw falls under the category of buffer overflow conditions and can be classified as CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities that occur when insufficient bounds checking is performed on data structures. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it allows remote attackers to trigger the vulnerability through the simple act of loading a specially crafted iptrace file, making it accessible to anyone who can influence the capture files processed by the affected Wireshark version.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when Wireshark attempts to parse an iptrace file containing an excessively long packet, causing memory corruption during the packet processing phase. The wiretap/iptrace.c module fails to properly validate the length of packets within the trace file before attempting to allocate memory or process the data, resulting in a buffer overflow condition that ultimately leads to application termination. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which covers network denial of service attacks through malformed packet processing. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of proper input sanitization and bounds checking, where the software assumes that all input data will conform to expected parameters without validating the actual size or structure of incoming data. The impact extends beyond simple application crash, as the instability can potentially lead to more severe consequences in environments where Wireshark is used for network monitoring or forensic analysis.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for network security professionals and organizations relying on Wireshark for network traffic analysis, as it creates a potential attack surface where malicious actors could disrupt network monitoring operations. When an attacker successfully triggers this vulnerability, the affected Wireshark instance crashes completely, requiring manual restart and potentially interrupting ongoing network analysis activities. This disruption can be particularly problematic in enterprise environments where continuous network monitoring is critical for security operations and incident response activities. The vulnerability also impacts automated analysis systems that might process iptrace files from various sources, as any compromised file could potentially bring down the entire analysis infrastructure. Organizations using affected Wireshark versions face increased risk of operational disruption during critical network events, and the vulnerability could be exploited in targeted attacks against network security teams who rely on these tools for their daily operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0067 primarily involve immediate software updates to versions 1.4.11 or 1.6.5, which contain proper bounds checking and input validation fixes for the iptrace parsing functionality. Network security teams should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all instances of Wireshark across their infrastructure are updated promptly, particularly in environments where network traffic analysis is performed on potentially untrusted data. Additional protective measures include implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious iptrace files, as well as establishing monitoring procedures to detect unusual application behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and defensive programming practices, which aligns with security frameworks such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines that emphasize the need for robust input sanitization and error handling in network security applications. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing or restricted execution environments for packet analysis tools when processing untrusted network data to limit the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities in the future.