CVE-2013-2487 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
epan/dissectors/packet-reload.c in the REsource LOcation And Discovery (aka RELOAD) dissector in Wireshark 1.8.x before 1.8.6 uses incorrect integer data types, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via crafted integer values in a packet, related to the (1) dissect_icecandidates, (2) dissect_kinddata, (3) dissect_nodeid_list, (4) dissect_storeans, (5) dissect_storereq, (6) dissect_storeddataspecifier, (7) dissect_fetchreq, (8) dissect_findans, (9) dissect_diagnosticinfo, (10) dissect_diagnosticresponse, (11) dissect_reload_messagecontents, and (12) dissect_reload_message functions, a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-2486.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-2487 affects the RELOAD dissector within Wireshark version 1.8.x before 1.8.6, specifically targeting the packet-reload.c file that handles Resource Location And Discovery protocol analysis. This issue represents a classic integer type handling flaw that can be exploited to create denial of service conditions through carefully crafted packet data. The vulnerability manifests in multiple dissector functions including icecandidates, kinddata, nodeid_list, storeans, storereq, storeddataspecifier, fetchreq, findans, diagnosticinfo, diagnosticresponse, reload_messagecontents, and reload_message, all of which are susceptible to malformed integer values that trigger unexpected behavior in the packet parsing logic. The root cause lies in improper data type usage during packet analysis, where signed and unsigned integer values are not correctly handled during protocol interpretation, creating conditions that can lead to infinite loop scenarios.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from incorrect integer data type handling within the dissector functions, where the code fails to properly validate or convert integer values received from network packets. When maliciously crafted integer values are processed by these functions, the incorrect type handling causes the parser to enter infinite loops or other problematic execution paths that consume excessive CPU resources and prevent normal packet processing operations. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, though the specific manifestation in this case involves improper type handling rather than simple overflow conditions. The vulnerability demonstrates how protocol dissector implementations can become vulnerable when they fail to properly validate input data types, particularly in network analysis tools that must process arbitrary packet data from potentially malicious sources.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against Wireshark instances running vulnerable versions by simply transmitting specially crafted packets that trigger the infinite loop conditions in the RELOAD dissector. The attack requires no authentication or special privileges, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Wireshark is used for network monitoring or forensic analysis. Network administrators and security analysts who rely on Wireshark for protocol analysis may find their tools become unresponsive or consume excessive resources, potentially disrupting critical network monitoring operations. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of Wireshark's protocol analysis capabilities, rendering the tool ineffective for its primary purpose during attack execution, which can significantly impact incident response and network troubleshooting activities.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2013-2487 involves upgrading to Wireshark version 1.8.6 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the integer type handling issues in the RELOAD dissector. Organizations should implement immediate patch management procedures to ensure all instances of Wireshark are updated to versions that contain the fixed dissector logic. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect unusual packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1498.001 for Denial of Service through resource exhaustion, where attackers exploit software flaws to consume system resources and render services unavailable. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block packets containing the specific malformed integer values that trigger this vulnerability, providing an additional layer of defense while patches are deployed.