CVE-2014-6431 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in 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 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted file that triggers writes of uncompressed bytes beyond the end of the output buffer.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6431 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Wireshark's network protocol analysis software, specifically affecting the DOS Sniffer file parser component. This issue manifests in the SnifferDecompress function located in wiretap/ngsniffer.c, where the software fails to properly validate buffer boundaries during decompression operations. The flaw affects Wireshark versions 1.10.x prior to 1.10.10 and 1.12.x prior to 1.12.1, creating a significant risk for users who process potentially malicious network capture files. The vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking mechanisms that allow attackers to craft specially formatted DOS Sniffer files capable of triggering memory corruption during the decompression process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a classic buffer overflow condition where the decompression algorithm writes uncompressed data beyond the allocated memory boundaries of the output buffer. When a maliciously crafted DOS Sniffer file is processed, the SnifferDecompress function calculates decompressed data sizes without proper validation against available buffer space, leading to memory corruption. This type of flaw falls under CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions where data is written beyond the bounds of a fixed-length buffer. The vulnerability's impact is classified as a denial of service attack, as successful exploitation results in application crash rather than arbitrary code execution, though the potential for more severe consequences cannot be entirely ruled out.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to network security analysts and forensic investigators who rely on Wireshark for network traffic analysis. Attackers can remotely trigger service disruption by simply sharing maliciously crafted DOS Sniffer files with unsuspecting users, making this a particularly dangerous flaw in environments where users frequently open or process network capture files from untrusted sources. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that simply opening a malicious file within Wireshark's interface is sufficient to trigger the buffer overflow condition, eliminating the need for additional attack vectors. This characteristic significantly broadens the attack surface and makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to disrupt network monitoring operations.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2014-6431 involves immediate upgrade to Wireshark versions 1.10.10 or 1.12.1, which contain the necessary patches to address the buffer overflow condition. System administrators should prioritize deployment of these updates across all environments where Wireshark is utilized, particularly in production monitoring and forensic analysis systems. Additionally, organizations should implement file validation procedures for network capture files, including automated scanning for known malicious patterns and restricting file processing to trusted sources only. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for application execution through file parsing highlights the importance of defensive measures such as sandboxing network capture file processing and implementing strict access controls for network analysis tools. Organizations should also consider network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability's denial of service impact can serve as a precursor to more sophisticated attacks targeting network infrastructure.