CVE-2012-6057 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The dissect_eigrp_metric_comm function in epan/dissectors/packet-eigrp.c in the EIGRP dissector in Wireshark 1.8.x before 1.8.4 uses the wrong data type for a certain offset value, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (integer overflow and infinite loop) via a malformed packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-6057 resides within the EIGRP dissector component of Wireshark, specifically in the dissect_eigrp_metric_comm function located in epan/dissectors/packet-eigrp.c. This flaw affects Wireshark versions 1.8.x prior to 1.8.4 and represents a critical security issue that can be exploited remotely to cause denial of service conditions. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of data types during packet analysis, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted EIGRP packets can trigger unexpected behavior in the network protocol analyzer.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability involves an incorrect data type assignment for a specific offset value within the EIGRP metric communication dissector. When processing malformed EIGRP packets, the function fails to properly validate or handle the offset calculations, leading to integer overflow conditions that can result in infinite loops during packet processing. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which occurs when a calculation produces a result that exceeds the maximum value that can be stored in the target data type. The improper data type handling creates a condition where the offset value becomes corrupted, causing the dissector to enter an infinite loop when attempting to parse the malformed packet data.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-6057 is significant as it allows remote attackers to disrupt network monitoring and analysis operations through a simple denial of service attack. When a victim system running Wireshark processes a specially crafted EIGRP packet, the application becomes unresponsive or consumes excessive CPU resources due to the infinite loop, effectively rendering the network analysis capabilities useless. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in network security operations where Wireshark is commonly used for troubleshooting, security monitoring, and protocol analysis. Attackers can exploit this weakness without requiring authentication or special privileges, making it an attractive target for malicious actors seeking to disrupt network operations or perform reconnaissance activities.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 for Network Denial of Service and can be leveraged as part of broader network disruption campaigns. The exploit requires minimal effort to implement as it only requires sending a malformed EIGRP packet to a system running the vulnerable Wireshark version. Organizations using Wireshark for network monitoring, security analysis, or incident response are particularly at risk since these tools are often deployed in critical network infrastructure monitoring scenarios. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and integer handling in network protocol analysis tools, as even minor flaws in data type management can lead to complete service disruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-6057 primarily involve upgrading to Wireshark version 1.8.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the integer overflow and infinite loop conditions. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic, while monitoring for unusual CPU usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malformed EIGRP packets before they reach vulnerable Wireshark installations. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure all network analysis tools remain current with security patches, as this vulnerability highlights the critical need for maintaining up-to-date network monitoring infrastructure to prevent exploitation of known flaws that could compromise network security operations.