CVE-2013-4074 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The dissect_capwap_data function in epan/dissectors/packet-capwap.c in the CAPWAP dissector in Wireshark 1.6.x before 1.6.16 and 1.8.x before 1.8.8 incorrectly uses a -1 data value to represent an error condition, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4074 resides within the CAPWAP dissector component of Wireshark, specifically in the dissect_capwap_data function located at epan/dissectors/packet-capwap.c. This flaw affects Wireshark versions 1.6.x prior to 1.6.16 and 1.8.x prior to 1.8.8, representing a critical denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited remotely. The issue manifests when processing CAPWAP (Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points) protocol packets, which are commonly used in wireless network management and monitoring scenarios.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper error handling within the dissector logic. When the dissect_capwap_data function encounters certain malformed or crafted CAPWAP packets, it incorrectly interprets a -1 value as an error indicator rather than a legitimate data value. This misinterpretation occurs during the packet parsing process where the function attempts to process CAPWAP data elements. The function fails to properly validate the data range or type before using the -1 value, leading to undefined behavior when the application attempts to process this invalid data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables remote attackers to cause a complete application crash of Wireshark through the simple act of transmitting a specially crafted CAPWAP packet. This denial of service condition affects network analysts, security professionals, and engineers who rely on Wireshark for network traffic analysis and troubleshooting. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where network monitoring is critical, as an attacker could disrupt ongoing network analysis sessions or prevent the identification of legitimate network issues. The remote nature of the attack means that any user who opens or processes a malicious CAPWAP packet within Wireshark is vulnerable to this exploit, making it a widespread concern across network security operations.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-248, which describes an "Uncaught Exception" scenario where an exception or error condition is not properly handled by the application. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a Denial of Service technique under the T1499.004 sub-technique, specifically targeting application availability through malformed input processing. The vulnerability also demonstrates characteristics of improper input validation and error handling, which are common attack vectors in network protocol analysis tools. Organizations using Wireshark for network monitoring, incident response, or security auditing are particularly at risk, as this vulnerability can be exploited without requiring any special privileges or authentication.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to Wireshark versions 1.6.16 or 1.8.8, which contain the necessary patches to properly handle error conditions and prevent the application crash. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and packet filtering to limit exposure to potentially malicious CAPWAP traffic. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on unusual packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security updates and patch management procedures should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from affecting other network analysis tools and applications that may be susceptible to similar error handling flaws.