CVE-2012-2394 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
Wireshark 1.4.x before 1.4.13 and 1.6.x before 1.6.8 on the SPARC and Itanium platforms does not properly perform data alignment for a certain structure member, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a (1) ICMP or (2) ICMPv6 Echo Request packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2394 represents a critical data alignment issue within Wireshark's packet processing mechanisms on specific hardware platforms. This flaw affects versions 1.4.x prior to 1.4.13 and 1.6.x prior to 1.6.8, specifically impacting SPARC and Itanium architecture systems where memory alignment requirements are more stringent than on conventional x86 platforms. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of structure member alignment during packet parsing operations, creating a condition where malformed network traffic can trigger unexpected behavior in the application's memory management subsystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the fundamental differences in how SPARC and Itanium processors handle memory access compared to x86 architectures. On these platforms, misaligned data access can result in processor exceptions or segmentation faults, particularly when the application attempts to read or write data structures that do not align properly with the processor's natural word boundaries. When Wireshark processes ICMP or ICMPv6 Echo Request packets, the parser encounters structure members that are not properly aligned according to the target platform's memory alignment requirements, causing the application to crash during normal packet processing operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it demonstrates a fundamental flaw in cross-platform compatibility testing and memory management practices within network analysis tools. Attackers can remotely exploit this vulnerability by crafting specially formatted ICMP or ICMPv6 Echo Request packets that, when processed by an affected Wireshark instance, will cause the application to terminate unexpectedly. This creates a reliable method for disrupting network monitoring and analysis operations, potentially affecting security professionals who rely on Wireshark for network traffic inspection and incident response activities. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where network monitoring tools are critical for security operations and where automated analysis systems may be vulnerable to such targeted disruptions.
Organizations should immediately update their Wireshark installations to versions 1.4.13 or 1.6.8 and later, which contain the necessary patches to address the data alignment issues. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic while updates are being deployed. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and reflects patterns commonly addressed through ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which involves network denial of service attacks. Additionally, this issue highlights the importance of platform-specific testing and the need for robust memory alignment handling in network protocol parsers, as outlined in industry best practices for secure coding and defensive programming techniques.