CVE-2013-4932 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple array index errors in epan/dissectors/packet-gsm_a_common.c in the GSM A Common dissector in Wireshark 1.8.x before 1.8.9 and 1.10.x before 1.10.1 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted packet.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4932 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Wireshark network protocol analyzer software. This issue specifically affects the GSM A Common dissector component that processes GSM A interface protocol data. The vulnerability manifests as multiple array index errors that occur during packet analysis, particularly when processing malformed or crafted GSM A protocol packets. These errors arise from insufficient bounds checking in the dissector logic, creating opportunities for remote attackers to exploit the software through carefully constructed network traffic. The affected versions include Wireshark 1.8.x prior to 1.8.9 and 1.10.x prior to 1.10.1, indicating this was a widespread issue affecting multiple stable release lines of the popular network analysis tool.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper array boundary validation within the packet-gsm_a_common.c source file, which is part of Wireshark's extensive collection of protocol dissectors. When the GSM A dissector encounters a malformed packet containing invalid array indices or out-of-bounds references, the application fails to properly handle these conditions and instead crashes with an access violation or segmentation fault. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array indices, and represents a classic buffer overflow scenario that can be exploited to cause application instability. The vulnerability operates at the protocol analysis layer where Wireshark processes network traffic for inspection, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered by simply capturing and analyzing malicious network traffic without requiring any special privileges or complex attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can severely disrupt network monitoring operations and compromise the reliability of network analysis infrastructure. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, the Wireshark application crashes and terminates, forcing network administrators to restart the analysis process and potentially lose ongoing network monitoring capabilities. This disruption can be particularly problematic in enterprise environments where continuous network monitoring is critical for security operations and incident response activities. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can trigger the crash from any location on the network, making it an attractive target for malicious actors seeking to disrupt network analysis operations or potentially mask their activities by causing analysis tools to fail. From an attacker tactics perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1490, which covers denial of service through application or system crashes, and represents a common vector for network disruption attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-4932 primarily involve upgrading to patched versions of Wireshark where the array index validation issues have been addressed. The specific patches released in Wireshark 1.8.9 and 1.10.1 resolve the underlying boundary checking flaws in the GSM A dissector implementation. Organizations should prioritize updating their Wireshark installations to these patched versions and implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing additional security measures such as traffic filtering to prevent malformed packets from reaching Wireshark analysis systems, although this approach may not be practical in all environments where comprehensive protocol analysis is required. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough input validation in network protocol analysis tools, particularly when processing potentially malicious network traffic from untrusted sources, and highlights the need for regular security updates to maintain the integrity of network monitoring infrastructure.