CVE-2013-3558 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The dissect_ccp_bsdcomp_opt function in epan/dissectors/packet-ppp.c in the PPP CCP dissector in Wireshark 1.8.x before 1.8.7 does not terminate a bit-field list, 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 described in CVE-2013-3558 resides within the PPP CCP dissector component of Wireshark, specifically in the dissect_ccp_bsdcomp_opt function located in epan/dissectors/packet-ppp.c. This flaw represents a classic buffer over-read condition that occurs when processing compressed packet protocol options in the Point-to-Point Protocol communication stack. The issue manifests when Wireshark attempts to parse malformed PPP packets containing compressed options, where the dissector fails to properly terminate a bit-field list structure during packet analysis. This failure creates a scenario where the application's parsing logic continues to read beyond the intended boundaries of the data structure, leading to unpredictable behavior and ultimately application instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of PPP CCP (Compression Control Protocol) option fields within network traffic. When a maliciously crafted packet containing malformed CCP options reaches a Wireshark instance configured for packet capture and analysis, the dissect_ccp_bsdcomp_opt function processes these options without proper boundary checking. The function's inability to terminate the bit-field list properly causes the dissector to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer space, which can result in memory corruption and subsequent application crash. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, specifically related to insufficient boundary checking in the context of bit-field processing and memory access control. The flaw essentially creates a path where an attacker can craft network packets that, when processed by Wireshark, trigger undefined behavior through improper memory traversal.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to network security monitoring and analysis operations. Network administrators and security professionals who rely on Wireshark for traffic inspection and forensic analysis face potential disruption of their monitoring capabilities when encountering maliciously crafted packets. The denial of service impact means that legitimate network analysis activities can be interrupted, potentially masking real security incidents or preventing the investigation of actual threats. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely through network traffic interception, making it particularly dangerous in environments where Wireshark is deployed for continuous monitoring. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046, which involves the use of network service scanning and packet analysis tools to identify and exploit application vulnerabilities. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can compromise the integrity of network forensic investigations and potentially provide attackers with opportunities to avoid detection while the monitoring tools are temporarily incapacitated.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrading of affected Wireshark installations to version 1.8.7 or later, where the bit-field list termination issue has been addressed through proper boundary validation in the CCP dissector. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic, while monitoring for unusual packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, deploying intrusion detection systems with signature-based detection for known malicious packet patterns can provide early warning of exploitation attempts. The fix implemented in the patched version addresses the root cause by ensuring proper termination of bit-field lists and implementing appropriate bounds checking mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing network traffic filtering rules that can drop or quarantine suspicious PPP packets before they reach Wireshark instances, providing an additional layer of defense against this and similar vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning of network monitoring tools should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in the broader network infrastructure.