CVE-2013-4079 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The dissect_schedule_message function in epan/dissectors/packet-gsm_cbch.c in the GSM CBCH dissector in Wireshark 1.8.x before 1.8.8 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop and application hang) via a crafted packet.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4079 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Wireshark network protocol analyzer software. This issue affects the GSM CBCH dissector component that processes GSM Cell Broadcast Channel messages, which are used for broadcasting emergency alerts, traffic information, and other public service messages in cellular networks. The vulnerability specifically resides in the dissect_schedule_message function located within the epan/dissectors/packet-gsm_cbch.c file, making it accessible through the packet dissection process that Wireshark employs to analyze network traffic.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and boundary checking within the dissect_schedule_message function. When Wireshark encounters a specially crafted GSM CBCH packet containing malformed data structures, the function fails to properly handle the unexpected input parameters, leading to an infinite loop condition in the dissection logic. This occurs because the parsing algorithm does not include proper termination conditions or input sanitization checks that would prevent the loop from continuing indefinitely when encountering malformed packet content. The flaw essentially creates a scenario where the dissection process becomes trapped in a continuous iteration, consuming system resources and causing the application to hang completely.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be exploited remotely by attackers who send maliciously crafted packets to any system running vulnerable versions of Wireshark. This makes it particularly dangerous in network monitoring environments where analysts might unknowingly process compromised traffic, or in scenarios where Wireshark is used for network forensics and packet analysis. The infinite loop condition effectively renders the Wireshark application unusable until manually terminated, potentially disrupting critical network analysis operations, forensic investigations, and real-time monitoring activities. The vulnerability can be exploited by anyone with network access to send the malicious packet, making it accessible to a wide range of threat actors.
Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-835, which specifically addresses infinite loops in software implementations, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network disruption through denial of service attacks. The vulnerability also reflects poor defensive programming practices where input validation and error handling mechanisms are insufficient to prevent malicious input from causing system instability. Organizations should immediately update to Wireshark version 1.8.8 or later, which includes the necessary patches to address this specific parsing flaw. Additionally, network administrators should implement proper network segmentation and monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while security teams should consider implementing temporary network access controls to prevent unauthorized packet injection into monitoring systems. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of robust input validation and defensive programming practices in protocol analysis software where malformed inputs must be handled gracefully without causing application instability.