CVE-2015-0560 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The dissect_wccp2r1_address_table_info function in epan/dissectors/packet-wccp.c in the WCCP dissector in Wireshark 1.10.x before 1.10.12 and 1.12.x before 1.12.3 does not initialize certain data structures, 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 • 03/02/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0560 resides within the Wireshark network protocol analyzer software, specifically in the WCCP dissector component responsible for analyzing Web Cache Coordination Protocol version 2 traffic. This flaw affects versions 1.10.x prior to 1.10.12 and 1.12.x prior to 1.12.3, representing a critical security issue that could be exploited by remote attackers to disrupt network analysis operations. The vulnerability stems from improper initialization of data structures within the dissect_wccp2r1_address_table_info function, which is part of the packet-wccp.c file in the epan/dissectors directory of the Wireshark codebase.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-457, which describes the use of uninitialized variables in software development. When processing WCCP protocol packets, the dissector fails to properly initialize certain data structures before using them in subsequent operations. This uninitialized memory access creates a condition where the application may attempt to read from or write to memory locations that have not been properly allocated or set, leading to unpredictable behavior. The flaw manifests when a remote attacker crafts a specially designed WCCP packet that triggers the vulnerable code path, causing the application to crash and terminate unexpectedly.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can severely disrupt network monitoring and forensic analysis operations that rely on Wireshark for packet inspection. Network administrators and security analysts who use Wireshark to monitor network traffic could experience complete application failure when encountering maliciously crafted WCCP packets, potentially leading to loss of critical network visibility and analysis capabilities. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where automated network monitoring systems depend on Wireshark for continuous traffic analysis, as a single malicious packet could bring down the entire monitoring infrastructure.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1498.001, which involves network denial of service attacks, and T1566.001, which covers spearphishing with attachments. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers could potentially target network monitoring systems without requiring local access, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability in enterprise environments. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise, as it only requires crafting a specific packet structure to trigger the uninitialized memory access, making it a preferred target for automated attack tools.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of affected Wireshark installations to versions 1.10.12 or 1.12.3, which contain the necessary code fixes to properly initialize the affected data structures. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic, while monitoring for unusual packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should maintain updated network monitoring tools and consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malicious WCCP traffic patterns. The fix implemented by the Wireshark development team addresses the core issue by ensuring proper initialization of all data structures before they are accessed, thereby preventing the application crash condition that occurred when uninitialized memory was referenced during packet processing operations.