CVE-2013-4924 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
epan/dissectors/packet-dcom-sysact.c in the DCOM ISystemActivator dissector in Wireshark 1.10.x before 1.10.1 does not properly validate certain index values, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (assertion failure and application exit) via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4924 resides within the DCOM ISystemActivator dissector component of Wireshark version 1.10.x prior to 1.10.1. This flaw specifically affects the packet-dcom-sysact.c file which is responsible for parsing and analyzing Distributed Component Object Model system activator packets. The vulnerability manifests as improper validation of index values during packet processing, creating a condition where maliciously crafted packets can trigger unexpected behavior in the network protocol analysis tool.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the dissector logic. When Wireshark processes DCOM ISystemActivator packets, it attempts to access array elements or memory locations using index values that are derived from the packet data itself. Without proper bounds checking or validation of these index values, an attacker can craft packets containing malformed or excessively large index values that exceed the allocated memory boundaries. This condition leads to assertion failures within the dissector code, ultimately causing the Wireshark application to terminate unexpectedly.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it represents a critical weakness in network monitoring and forensic analysis capabilities. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can force Wireshark to crash, effectively disrupting network traffic analysis operations that depend on the tool. This disruption can occur during critical network troubleshooting sessions, security incident investigations, or continuous network monitoring operations where Wireshark serves as a primary analysis instrument. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where automated network monitoring systems rely on Wireshark for real-time packet analysis, as the service interruption can cascade into broader operational impacts.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array index values, and represents a classic example of an assertion failure leading to application termination. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the 'Execution' phase, specifically as a form of application crash or hang that can be leveraged to disrupt services. The exploitability of this vulnerability is relatively straightforward, requiring only the ability to send crafted network packets to the target system running Wireshark, making it a potentially dangerous issue for network administrators who depend on the tool for security monitoring.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations by upgrading to Wireshark version 1.10.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the index validation issues. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the exposure of systems running Wireshark to untrusted network traffic. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in protocol analysis tools and highlights the need for robust error handling mechanisms that prevent malformed data from causing application termination. Security monitoring systems should also include detection capabilities for unusual application crashes or service disruptions that might indicate exploitation attempts against similar vulnerabilities in network analysis tools.