CVE-2014-6430 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The SnifferDecompress function in wiretap/ngsniffer.c in the DOS Sniffer file parser in Wireshark 1.10.x before 1.10.10 and 1.12.x before 1.12.1 does not validate bitmask data, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6430 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Wireshark's network protocol analysis software. This issue affects the DOS Sniffer file parser component, specifically the SnifferDecompress function located in wiretap/ngsniffer.c. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify bitmask data integrity during file processing operations. When a maliciously crafted DOS Sniffer file is processed by the affected Wireshark versions, the application encounters a crash condition that results in complete service disruption. This flaw particularly impacts versions 1.10.x prior to 1.10.10 and 1.12.x prior to 1.12.1, making them susceptible to exploitation by remote attackers who can craft specific file payloads to trigger the vulnerability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input ranges, and more specifically relates to CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions. The SnifferDecompress function operates under the assumption that bitmask data will conform to expected parameters, but fails to implement proper bounds checking or data validation procedures. When malformed bitmask data is encountered, the function proceeds with processing without adequate safeguards, leading to memory corruption and subsequent application instability. This behavior creates a predictable crash scenario that remote attackers can exploit by simply providing a crafted DOS Sniffer file to the vulnerable Wireshark parser. The vulnerability demonstrates poor defensive programming practices where input validation occurs after data processing rather than before, creating an attack surface that allows for arbitrary code execution conditions or complete service denial.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to network security analysts and organizations that rely on Wireshark for network traffic analysis and troubleshooting. The denial of service impact means that legitimate network monitoring activities can be disrupted by a single malicious file, potentially affecting critical network operations and incident response procedures. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability without requiring elevated privileges or specialized knowledge beyond the ability to create specific file formats. The vulnerability affects both the Windows and Unix-like operating systems where Wireshark is deployed, making it a cross-platform threat. Organizations using affected Wireshark versions may experience complete application crashes during normal network analysis operations, potentially leading to loss of network visibility and compromised security monitoring capabilities.
The remediation strategy for CVE-2014-6430 requires immediate deployment of patched Wireshark versions that address the insufficient input validation in the SnifferDecompress function. The official fixes included enhanced validation routines that properly verify bitmask data ranges before processing, preventing the out-of-bounds memory access conditions that caused the application crashes. System administrators should prioritize updating to Wireshark 1.10.10 or 1.12.1, depending on their current version, and implement comprehensive testing procedures to ensure that the patches do not introduce compatibility issues with existing network analysis workflows. Additional mitigations may include implementing network segmentation controls to limit file processing capabilities, deploying file content filtering mechanisms, and establishing robust monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious file transfer activities that might attempt to exploit this vulnerability through the ATT&CK technique of initial access via malicious files.