CVE-2013-1573 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The csnStreamDissector function in epan/dissectors/packet-csn1.c in the CSN.1 dissector in Wireshark 1.6.x before 1.6.13 and 1.8.x before 1.8.5 does not properly handle a large number of padding bits, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via a malformed packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1573 resides within the CSN.1 dissector component of Wireshark, specifically in the csnStreamDissector function located in epan/dissectors/packet-csn1.c. This flaw affects Wireshark versions 1.6.x prior to 1.6.13 and 1.8.x prior to 1.8.5, representing a significant security concern that impacts the network protocol analysis capabilities of the widely used packet analyzer. The vulnerability manifests when the dissector encounters malformed packets containing an excessive number of padding bits, creating a condition that can be exploited for remote denial of service attacks.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the csnStreamDissector function, which fails to properly handle or limit the processing of padding bits in CSN.1 formatted packets. When a malformed packet with an excessive number of padding bits is processed, the dissector enters an infinite loop during the parsing operation, causing the Wireshark application to become unresponsive and consume excessive system resources. This behavior represents a classic example of a resource exhaustion vulnerability where the attacker can force the application to consume unlimited processing cycles without making meaningful progress in packet analysis. The flaw operates at the protocol dissector level, meaning it affects how Wireshark interprets and processes specific network protocols rather than the core application functionality.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-1573 extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can severely disrupt network analysis operations and compromise the availability of network monitoring services. Network administrators and security analysts who rely on Wireshark for troubleshooting, security monitoring, and protocol analysis face significant risks when this vulnerability is present, as an attacker could remotely incapacitate their analysis tools. The infinite loop condition created by this vulnerability can cause complete system hangs, requiring manual intervention to terminate the Wireshark process and restart the analysis environment. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in production environments where continuous network monitoring is critical, as it can effectively disable security operations and network troubleshooting capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-1573 primarily involve upgrading to patched versions of Wireshark where the issue has been resolved through proper input validation and bounds checking in the csnStreamDissector function. The fix implemented in Wireshark versions 1.6.13 and 1.8.5 includes enhanced validation of padding bit counts and implementation of reasonable limits to prevent the infinite loop condition. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious packets, while monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses buffer overflow conditions, and represents a typical example of how improper input validation can lead to denial of service conditions. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1499.004 technique related to network denial of service attacks, where adversaries leverage software flaws to disrupt network operations and compromise availability of critical network analysis tools.