CVE-2013-4076 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the dissect_iphc_crtp_fh function in epan/dissectors/packet-ppp.c in the PPP dissector in Wireshark 1.8.x before 1.8.8 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4076 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the Wireshark network protocol analyzer software. This flaw exists specifically within the PPP dissector component, which is responsible for analyzing Point-to-Point Protocol traffic. The vulnerability manifests in the dissect_iphc_crtp_fh function located in the epan/dissectors/packet-ppp.c source file, making it a direct concern for network forensics and security analysis tools that rely on accurate packet dissection.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when the PPP dissector processes packets containing compressed headers, particularly those using the CRTP (Compressed Real-Time Protocol) format. The function fails to properly validate input data length before copying it into a fixed-size buffer, creating an exploitable condition where maliciously crafted packets can exceed the allocated buffer space. This overflow condition directly violates CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow vulnerabilities that occur when insufficient bounds checking is performed on data before copying it into a fixed-length buffer, and aligns with CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds write conditions that can lead to application instability or crashes.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to network security professionals who depend on Wireshark for network analysis and troubleshooting. Remote attackers can exploit this condition by transmitting specially crafted PPP packets to a victim system running an affected version of Wireshark. The consequence is an application crash that results in a denial of service, effectively rendering the network analysis tool unusable for its intended purpose. This attack vector is particularly concerning because it can be executed without requiring authentication or specialized privileges, making it accessible to any network attacker who can inject packets into the network traffic being monitored.
The impact extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise network monitoring capabilities during critical security incidents. Network administrators and security analysts rely on stable packet analysis tools to investigate network anomalies, detect security breaches, and perform forensic analysis. When such tools crash due to buffer overflow conditions, it creates gaps in network visibility that attackers can exploit. The vulnerability also demonstrates a fundamental weakness in input validation practices within the Wireshark codebase, highlighting the importance of robust bounds checking in protocol dissector implementations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate upgrading to Wireshark version 1.8.8 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the buffer overflow condition. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments and security updates for all network analysis tools. The fix typically involves implementing proper bounds checking and input validation before buffer operations, ensuring that data lengths are verified against allocated buffer sizes before any copying occurs. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security software and the potential for seemingly minor implementation flaws to create significant operational risks in network security tools. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a denial of service attack vector, specifically under the technique of application or system compromise, where the goal is to disrupt normal operations of security monitoring tools.