CVE-2013-6338 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The dissect_sip_common function in epan/dissectors/packet-sip.c in the SIP dissector in Wireshark 1.8.x before 1.8.11 and 1.10.x before 1.10.3 does not properly initialize a data structure, 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 • 06/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-6338 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Wireshark network protocol analyzer software. This issue specifically affects the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) dissector component, which is responsible for parsing and analyzing SIP traffic within network captures. The vulnerability exists in Wireshark versions 1.8.x prior to 1.8.11 and 1.10.x prior to 1.10.3, making it a widespread concern across multiple stable release lines of the popular network analysis tool. The flaw manifests in the dissect_sip_common function located within the epan/dissectors/packet-sip.c source file, where improper data structure initialization creates exploitable conditions for remote attackers.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management practices within the SIP dissector's packet processing logic. When the dissect_sip_common function encounters a crafted SIP packet, it fails to properly initialize certain data structures before attempting to process the packet contents. This initialization failure leads to undefined behavior where the application may attempt to access uninitialized memory locations or manipulate improperly set data fields. The improper initialization creates a scenario where the dissector's internal state becomes corrupted, ultimately resulting in an application crash when the malformed packet is processed during network capture analysis.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-6338 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it represents a remote code execution vector that can be leveraged by attackers to compromise network analysis operations. Network security professionals and forensic analysts who rely on Wireshark for traffic inspection and incident response activities face significant risk when encountering maliciously crafted SIP packets in their captures. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where automated network monitoring systems process untrusted traffic, as it can lead to complete system outages and prevent legitimate network analysis activities. This flaw directly aligns with CWE-457: Use of Uninitialized Variable, which is classified under the broader category of memory safety issues in software development.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's T1499.002 technique, specifically targeting network infrastructure and analysis tools to achieve denial of service. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers need only send a specially crafted SIP packet to a system running vulnerable Wireshark versions, without requiring local access or authentication. The attack surface is particularly broad given that SIP is widely used in VoIP communications, making this vulnerability relevant across telecommunications, enterprise networking, and security monitoring environments. Organizations utilizing Wireshark for network traffic analysis, security auditing, or incident response operations must consider this vulnerability as a critical risk that could be exploited to disrupt their network monitoring capabilities.
The remediation for CVE-2013-6338 involves upgrading to patched versions of Wireshark, specifically versions 1.8.11 or 1.10.3 and later. This upgrade addresses the improper data structure initialization issue by ensuring that all relevant memory locations are properly initialized before packet processing begins. Security administrators should implement immediate patch management procedures to protect their network analysis infrastructure from exploitation attempts. Additionally, network monitoring systems should consider implementing packet filtering rules to prevent potentially malicious SIP traffic from reaching systems running vulnerable Wireshark versions, though this represents a temporary mitigation rather than a permanent solution. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper memory management practices in protocol dissector implementations and the critical need for thorough testing of network analysis tools against malformed input data.