CVE-2013-1578 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The dissect_pw_eth_heuristic function in epan/dissectors/packet-pw-eth.c in Wireshark 1.6.x before 1.6.13 and 1.8.x before 1.8.5 does not properly handle apparent Ethernet address values at the beginning of MPLS data, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (loop) via a malformed packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1578 resides within the Wireshark network protocol analyzer software, specifically in the packet-pw-eth.c file that handles pseudowire ethernet packet dissection. This flaw affects versions 1.6.x prior to 1.6.13 and 1.8.x prior to 1.8.5, creating a critical security gap that enables remote attackers to exploit the software through crafted malicious packets. The vulnerability manifests in the dissect_pw_eth_heuristic function which is responsible for identifying and dissecting pseudowire ethernet frames within MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) network traffic.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of Ethernet address values that appear at the beginning of MPLS data packets. When Wireshark encounters malformed packets containing what appears to be Ethernet addresses within the MPLS payload, the dissect_pw_eth_heuristic function fails to properly validate or process these values. This processing error creates a condition where the dissection logic enters an infinite loop or becomes trapped in a repetitive processing cycle, causing the application to consume excessive CPU resources and ultimately leading to a denial of service condition. The flaw represents a classic buffer over-read and improper input validation issue that allows attackers to manipulate the dissection process through carefully crafted packet structures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication or special privileges from the attacker. Network administrators and security analysts who rely on Wireshark for network monitoring and troubleshooting face significant risks when their systems encounter maliciously crafted packets. The denial of service condition can effectively render Wireshark unusable for network analysis, potentially interrupting critical network monitoring operations and forensic investigations. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where Wireshark is deployed for continuous network traffic analysis or where it processes untrusted network data from external sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-1578 involve immediate patching of affected Wireshark installations to versions 1.6.13 or 1.8.5 and later, which contain the necessary code fixes to properly handle the malformed Ethernet address values. Organizations 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. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input boundaries, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. Network administrators should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malformed packets matching the vulnerability signature, while maintaining regular updates to ensure protection against similar future vulnerabilities in network analysis tools.