CVE-2012-6055 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
epan/dissectors/packet-3g-a11.c in the 3GPP2 A11 dissector in Wireshark 1.8.x before 1.8.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via a zero value in a sub-type length field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-6055 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Wireshark's 3GPP2 A11 dissector component. This issue affects Wireshark versions 1.8.x prior to 1.8.4, where the packet-3g-a11.c file contains a logic error that can be exploited by remote attackers to trigger an infinite loop condition. The vulnerability specifically targets the handling of sub-type length fields within 3GPP2 A11 protocol packets, which are commonly used in wireless communication networks for signaling between mobile devices and network infrastructure. The flaw occurs when the dissector encounters a zero value in the sub-type length field, causing the parsing routine to enter an infinite loop state that consumes excessive CPU resources and renders the application unresponsive.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the dissector's parsing logic. When processing network packets that contain malformed sub-type length fields with zero values, the dissector fails to properly validate the field contents before entering iterative processing loops. This condition creates a path where the dissector continuously processes the same packet data without proper termination conditions, effectively creating an infinite loop that can be triggered remotely by sending specially crafted network traffic. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-835, which specifically addresses infinite loops in software implementations where loop termination conditions are not properly enforced. From an operational perspective, this flaw represents a significant risk to network monitoring and analysis capabilities since Wireshark is widely used by network administrators, security analysts, and forensic investigators for packet analysis and troubleshooting.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise network security operations and monitoring capabilities. When exploited, the infinite loop causes Wireshark to become unresponsive and consume 100% CPU resources, preventing legitimate network analysis activities from proceeding. This denial of service condition can be particularly problematic in environments where continuous network monitoring is required, such as security operations centers, network troubleshooting scenarios, or forensic investigations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to disrupt network analysis tools without requiring any special privileges or authentication, making it an attractive target for malicious actors seeking to impair network security monitoring. The flaw also demonstrates a broader pattern of insufficient input validation that can be addressed through adherence to secure coding practices and proper boundary checking as recommended by the Software Engineering Institute's secure coding guidelines.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-6055 primarily focus on updating to the patched version of Wireshark, specifically version 1.8.4 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly validate sub-type length fields and prevent infinite loop conditions. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect unusual CPU usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security updates. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and proper error handling in network protocol dissectors, as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework's methodology for defending against network-based attacks. The incident underscores the need for comprehensive testing of protocol parsers against malformed inputs and the implementation of robust timeout mechanisms to prevent resource exhaustion attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious packet patterns that might indicate attempts to exploit similar vulnerabilities in network analysis tools.