CVE-2013-1576 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The dissect_sdp_media_attribute function in epan/dissectors/packet-sdp.c in the SDP dissector in Wireshark 1.6.x before 1.6.13 and 1.8.x before 1.8.5 does not properly process crypto-suite parameters, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via a malformed packet.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1576 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Wireshark network protocol analyzer software. This issue specifically affects the Session Description Protocol (SDP) dissector functionality, which is responsible for parsing and interpreting SDP packets used in multimedia communication sessions. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of crypto-suite parameters within the SDP media attribute processing mechanism, creating a condition where maliciously crafted packets can trigger unexpected behavior in the network analysis tool.
The technical flaw manifests in the dissect_sdp_media_attribute function located in epan/dissectors/packet-sdp.c file of the affected Wireshark versions. When this function encounters malformed SDP packets containing specially crafted crypto-suite parameters, it fails to properly validate or process these elements, leading to an infinite loop condition in the packet parsing routine. This occurs because the function does not implement adequate boundary checks or parameter validation before entering iterative processing loops that handle the crypto-suite data structures. The flaw is particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely through network traffic analysis without requiring any special privileges or authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can effectively render Wireshark unusable for network analysis purposes. Attackers can craft specific SDP packets that, when processed by the vulnerable Wireshark version, cause the application to enter an infinite loop, consuming excessive CPU resources and preventing normal packet processing. This denial of service condition affects network administrators, security analysts, and forensic investigators who rely on Wireshark for network traffic examination, potentially compromising their ability to monitor network activity, diagnose issues, or perform security assessments. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where Wireshark is used for continuous network monitoring or security auditing operations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately upgrade to Wireshark versions 1.6.13 or 1.8.5, which contain the necessary patches to address the crypto-suite parameter processing issue. The fix implemented by the Wireshark development team involves adding proper input validation and boundary checking to the dissect_sdp_media_attribute function, ensuring that malformed crypto-suite parameters are handled gracefully without causing infinite loop conditions. System administrators should also consider implementing network segmentation and traffic filtering measures to prevent potentially malicious SDP packets from reaching systems running vulnerable Wireshark versions. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-835, which describes the weakness of an infinite loop or other loop that never terminates, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to denial of service conditions that compromise system availability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a Denial of Service technique, specifically under the T1499 sub-technique for network denial of service, where attackers exploit software vulnerabilities to disrupt normal operations.