CVE-2013-3555 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
epan/dissectors/packet-gtpv2.c in the GTPv2 dissector in Wireshark 1.8.x before 1.8.7 calls incorrect functions in certain contexts related to ciphers, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a malformed packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3555 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the GTPv2 dissector component of Wireshark version 1.8.x prior to 1.8.7. This issue specifically affects the packet-gtpv2.c file which handles the decoding and analysis of GPRS Tunneling Protocol version 2 traffic. GTPv2 is a crucial protocol used in 4G mobile networks for communication between network elements such as MMEs and S-GWs, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for network security professionals who rely on Wireshark for traffic analysis and monitoring. The flaw manifests when the dissector encounters malformed GTPv2 packets containing specific cipher-related data structures that trigger incorrect function calls within the protocol parsing logic.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of cipher parameters within the GTPv2 protocol decoder. When Wireshark processes a malformed packet that contains unexpected or incorrectly formatted cipher information, the dissector fails to properly validate the input data before invoking subsequent parsing functions. This leads to a situation where the application attempts to execute functions with invalid parameters or memory addresses, resulting in an application crash. The root cause aligns with CWE-248, which describes an unchecked exception in the context of protocol parsing, and specifically relates to improper handling of protocol data structures during network traffic analysis. The vulnerability exploits a classic buffer over-read or invalid pointer dereference scenario that occurs when the dissector fails to properly validate the length and format of cipher-related fields within GTPv2 headers.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-3555 extends beyond simple application instability, as it can severely disrupt network monitoring and forensic analysis activities. Network security teams and engineers who depend on Wireshark for real-time traffic inspection and troubleshooting may find their analysis tools becoming unresponsive or crashing when processing maliciously crafted packets. This disruption can occur during routine network monitoring, incident response activities, or security audits, potentially leaving network administrators unable to analyze critical traffic patterns or investigate security incidents. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where automated network monitoring systems rely on Wireshark for continuous traffic analysis, as a single malicious packet could cause system-wide outages. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 which involves network disruption through application crash, and represents a significant vector for denial of service attacks against network analysis infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-3555 primarily focus on immediate software updates and defensive measures. The most effective solution involves upgrading to Wireshark version 1.8.7 or later, where the GTPv2 dissector has been patched to properly validate cipher parameters and handle malformed input gracefully. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and packet filtering rules to prevent the injection of malformed GTPv2 packets into monitoring environments. Additional defensive measures include deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious GTPv2 traffic patterns, implementing redundant monitoring systems, and establishing proper network access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic. Security teams should also consider implementing network traffic monitoring with alternative tools as backup solutions during patch deployment periods, ensuring continuous visibility into network operations despite potential temporary service disruptions during the remediation process.