CVE-2014-5161 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The dissect_log function in plugins/irda/packet-irda.c in the IrDA dissector in Wireshark 1.10.x before 1.10.9 does not properly strip '\n' characters, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (buffer underflow and application crash) via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5161 resides within the IrDA dissector component of Wireshark, specifically in the dissect_log function located in plugins/irda/packet-irda.c. This flaw affects Wireshark versions 1.10.x prior to 1.10.9 and represents a critical buffer underflow condition that can be exploited remotely to trigger application crashes. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the packet parsing logic that handles IrDA (Infrared Data Association) protocol data. When processing specially crafted IrDA packets, the dissector fails to properly strip null characters from the input data, creating a scenario where buffer boundaries are violated during packet analysis operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through improper handling of character sequences within the dissect_log function, which is responsible for parsing and interpreting IrDA protocol log data. The failure to strip null characters creates a condition where the dissector attempts to process malformed data that exceeds expected buffer boundaries, leading to memory corruption and subsequent application instability. This buffer underflow condition directly violates the principles of secure memory management and input validation that are fundamental to preventing denial of service attacks. The vulnerability operates at the protocol dissector level, meaning that any user who processes packets containing malicious IrDA data through Wireshark will be susceptible to this attack vector, regardless of their network privileges or system configuration.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to network security analysts and forensic investigators who rely on Wireshark for packet analysis and network troubleshooting. The remote exploitability means that an attacker can craft malicious IrDA packets and transmit them to a victim who is running an affected version of Wireshark, causing the application to crash and potentially resulting in loss of network monitoring capabilities. The impact extends beyond simple application instability, as it can disrupt critical network analysis workflows and potentially provide an attacker with a means to evade detection by causing legitimate monitoring tools to become unavailable. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes buffer underflows in C/C++ applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1070.004 for 'Indicator Removal on Host: File Deletion' as the crash behavior can be leveraged to disrupt normal operational procedures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5161 primarily focus on immediate version upgrading to Wireshark 1.10.9 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly sanitize input data and prevent buffer underflow conditions. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious IrDA traffic, particularly in environments where Wireshark is actively used for packet analysis. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious IrDA packet patterns may provide an additional layer of protection. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in network analysis tools, as even specialized security applications can contain critical flaws that compromise system availability and operational integrity. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect application crashes and provide alerts when monitoring tools become unavailable, ensuring that security operations are not disrupted by such denial of service conditions.