CVE-2014-9380 in Ettercap
Summary
by MITRE
The dissector_cvs function in dissectors/ec_cvs.c in Ettercap 0.8.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via a packet containing only a CVS_LOGIN signature.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-9380 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the Ettercap network analysis and interception tool version 0.8.1. This issue specifically affects the dissector_cvs function located in the dissectors/ec_cvs.c source file, which is responsible for parsing and analyzing CVS (Concurrent Versions System) protocol traffic. The vulnerability arises when Ettercap processes network packets that contain only a CVS_LOGIN signature without any additional data payload, creating a scenario where the application fails to properly validate input boundaries before accessing memory locations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the CVS protocol dissector component. When Ettercap encounters a packet containing solely a CVS_LOGIN signature, the dissector_cvs function attempts to parse what it expects to be a complete CVS protocol message but instead receives an incomplete packet structure. This results in the function reading beyond the allocated memory boundaries, causing an out-of-bounds read condition that can lead to application instability and potential system crashes. The flaw operates at the protocol parsing layer, where the software assumes certain data structures will contain specific amounts of information without proper validation checks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to network monitoring and security analysis operations that rely on Ettercap for traffic inspection. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially formatted network packets that contain only the CVS_LOGIN signature, triggering the denial of service condition without requiring any authentication or privileged access. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as this vulnerability can affect the reliability of network security tools used for intrusion detection, traffic analysis, and protocol monitoring in enterprise environments. The out-of-bounds read condition can potentially be leveraged for more severe consequences depending on the execution environment and memory layout.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions in software implementations, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1499 for network denial of service attacks. The flaw demonstrates poor defensive programming practices where the application does not adequately validate input parameters before processing them, a common pattern in protocol parsing components that handle untrusted network data. Organizations using Ettercap for network analysis should consider immediate mitigation strategies including updating to patched versions, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, or deploying additional network monitoring controls to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation and boundary checking in network protocol analysis tools that process potentially malicious traffic from untrusted sources.