CVE-2013-1574 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The dissect_bthci_eir_ad_data function in epan/dissectors/packet-bthci_cmd.c in the Bluetooth HCI dissector in Wireshark 1.6.x before 1.6.13 and 1.8.x before 1.8.5 uses an incorrect data type for a counter variable, 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-2013-1574 resides within the Bluetooth HCI dissector component of Wireshark, specifically in the dissect_bthci_eir_ad_data function located in epan/dissectors/packet-bthci_cmd.c. This flaw affects versions 1.6.x prior to 1.6.13 and 1.8.x prior to 1.8.5, representing a critical denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited remotely. The issue manifests when processing malformed Bluetooth packets containing Extended Inquiry Response (EIR) advertising data, where the dissector fails to properly handle the counter variable used during packet parsing operations.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from an incorrect data type assignment for a counter variable within the dissect_bthci_eir_ad_data function. This improper type handling creates a condition where the loop counter fails to increment correctly during packet analysis, leading to an infinite loop scenario that consumes excessive CPU resources. The flaw occurs because the dissector processes advertising data structures without proper bounds checking or type validation, allowing maliciously crafted packets to trigger the problematic code path. When a malformed packet containing EIR data is processed, the counter variable's incorrect data type prevents proper loop termination, causing the dissector to enter an infinite loop that can only be resolved by terminating the Wireshark process.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to network monitoring and security analysis operations where Wireshark is deployed as a packet capture and analysis tool. Attackers can remotely trigger this denial of service condition by sending specially crafted Bluetooth packets to a system running the vulnerable Wireshark version, potentially disrupting network analysis activities, compromising system availability, and affecting security operations that rely on continuous packet monitoring. The infinite loop condition can consume 100% CPU resources, making the affected system unresponsive to legitimate network traffic analysis tasks and potentially causing cascading failures in network security infrastructure that depends on Wireshark for protocol analysis.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-128, which describes "Wrap or Overflow" conditions that occur when an integer value is incremented beyond its maximum representable value, and it maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, "Endpoint Denial of Service" involving network service disruption. Organizations using Wireshark for network security monitoring, penetration testing, or forensic analysis are particularly vulnerable to this attack vector, as the exploit can be executed remotely without requiring authentication or specialized privileges. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the integrity of network security operations and forensic investigations that depend on stable packet analysis capabilities.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to Wireshark versions 1.6.13 or 1.8.5, which contain the necessary patches to correct the counter variable type issue. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious Bluetooth traffic, while monitoring for unusual CPU consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malformed Bluetooth packets before they reach systems running vulnerable Wireshark versions, thereby providing an additional layer of protection against this specific denial of service vulnerability.