CVE-2013-3559 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
epan/dissectors/packet-dcp-etsi.c in the DCP ETSI dissector in Wireshark 1.8.x before 1.8.7 uses incorrect integer data types, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (integer overflow, and heap memory corruption or NULL pointer dereference, and application crash) via a malformed packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3559 resides within the DCP ETSI dissector component of Wireshark version 1.8.x before 1.8.7, representing a critical flaw in the network protocol analysis tool's packet processing capabilities. This issue specifically affects the epan/dissectors/packet-dcp-etsi.c file which handles the decoding of DCP ETSI protocol packets. The vulnerability stems from the improper use of integer data types during packet parsing operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the software through crafted network traffic. The DCP ETSI protocol is used for device configuration and communication in industrial control systems, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for operational technology environments.
The technical implementation flaw manifests through incorrect integer data type usage that leads to integer overflow conditions when processing malformed packet data. When Wireshark encounters a specially crafted packet containing oversized or malformed integer values, the application fails to properly validate these values before performing arithmetic operations or memory allocation calculations. This improper handling results in integer overflow scenarios that can cause heap memory corruption or NULL pointer dereference conditions. The vulnerability operates at the protocol dissector level where raw network data is converted into structured protocol information, making it a fundamental flaw in the application's parsing logic.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and directly translates to denial of service conditions that can crash the Wireshark application entirely. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness by transmitting malformed DCP ETSI packets to a victim system running the vulnerable Wireshark version, causing the application to terminate unexpectedly. The heap memory corruption aspect of the vulnerability introduces additional risks beyond simple application crashes, potentially allowing for more sophisticated exploitation techniques that could lead to arbitrary code execution in some scenarios. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where network monitoring is critical and continuous operation is required.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-3559 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to Wireshark 1.8.7 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the integer type handling issues. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic, particularly in industrial environments where DCP ETSI protocol traffic is common. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which describes integer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how improper integer handling can lead to memory corruption vulnerabilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving denial of service and potentially privilege escalation through application crashes, making it a significant concern for cybersecurity teams responsible for network monitoring and industrial control system security. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to identify and block malformed packets that could exploit this vulnerability.