CVE-2012-4286 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The pcapng_read_packet_block function in wiretap/pcapng.c in the pcap-ng file parser in Wireshark 1.8.x before 1.8.2 allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (divide-by-zero error and application crash) via a crafted pcap-ng file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4286 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Wireshark's packet capture file parsing functionality. This issue affects Wireshark versions 1.8.x prior to 1.8.2, specifically targeting the pcapng_read_packet_block function located in the wiretap/pcapng.c module. The vulnerability operates through a user-assisted remote attack vector, meaning an attacker must convince a victim to open a specially crafted pcap-ng file to trigger the exploit. The flaw manifests as a divide-by-zero error that leads to an application crash, effectively rendering the network protocol analyzer unusable and preventing legitimate network traffic analysis operations.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the pcap-ng file parser implementation. When the pcapng_read_packet_block function processes a malformed pcap-ng file containing specific malicious data structures, it attempts to perform a division operation with a zero value as part of its packet block processing logic. This mathematical error occurs during the parsing of packet block headers or associated metadata within the pcap-ng format, which is designed to store network traffic data in a more flexible and extensible format compared to traditional pcap files. The absence of proper bounds checking and validation of numeric values in the parsed data structures creates an exploitable condition that directly maps to CWE-369, which describes the improper handling of a divide-by-zero error in software implementations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can severely compromise network analysis capabilities in environments where Wireshark serves as a critical diagnostic tool. Security analysts, network administrators, and forensic investigators rely on Wireshark for monitoring network traffic, identifying security incidents, and troubleshooting connectivity issues. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can force the application to crash, potentially causing loss of ongoing network monitoring sessions and forcing analysts to restart their analysis processes. This disruption becomes particularly problematic in incident response scenarios where continuous network visibility is essential for threat detection and containment. The vulnerability also affects the availability of network analysis services, as users cannot reliably open pcap-ng files without risking application instability, which can impact both automated analysis pipelines and manual forensic investigations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4286 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to Wireshark 1.8.2 or later releases where the divide-by-zero error has been addressed through proper input validation and error handling mechanisms. Network security teams should implement proactive patch management policies to ensure all instances of Wireshark across their infrastructure are updated promptly. Additionally, organizations can deploy network traffic analysis systems that automatically validate and sanitize packet capture files before processing them through tools like Wireshark. The implementation of network segmentation and access controls can limit exposure by preventing untrusted users from uploading potentially malicious files to systems running Wireshark. Security monitoring should include detection of abnormal application behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while also maintaining regular backups of network analysis data to prevent loss during system crashes. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in network protocol analysis tools and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for executing malicious code through file parsing operations, emphasizing the need for defensive measures in protocol analysis applications.