CVE-2015-2190 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
epan/proto.c in Wireshark 1.12.x before 1.12.4 does not properly handle integer data types greater than 32 bits in size, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (assertion failure and application exit) via a crafted packet that is improperly handled by the LLDP dissector.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2190 resides within the Wireshark network protocol analyzer software, specifically in the epan/proto.c file where improper handling of integer data types exceeding 32 bits in size creates a critical security flaw. This issue affects Wireshark versions 1.12.x prior to 1.12.4, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on this network analysis tool for traffic inspection and monitoring. The flaw manifests when the LLDP (Link Layer Discovery Protocol) dissector encounters crafted packets that contain malformed integer values, leading to unexpected behavior in the application's processing logic.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and handling of large integer data types within the packet parsing mechanism. When Wireshark processes network traffic containing LLDP frames with oversized integer fields, the application fails to properly validate the data size constraints, resulting in assertion failures that trigger application termination. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, which specifically addresses improper handling of integer data types that exceed expected bounds. The assertion failure occurs because the software assumes certain integer values will remain within 32-bit limits, but receives data that exceeds these boundaries, causing the program to crash during packet analysis.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2190 extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can be exploited by remote attackers to disrupt network monitoring operations and potentially compromise network visibility. In enterprise environments where Wireshark is used for critical network analysis and security monitoring, this vulnerability could allow attackers to repeatedly crash the application, preventing legitimate network traffic analysis and potentially masking malicious activities. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1498, which involves network denial of service attacks, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to application instability. Organizations using Wireshark for network forensics, intrusion detection, or security auditing may find their monitoring capabilities severely compromised when this vulnerability is exploited.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-2190 primarily involve immediate patching of affected Wireshark installations to version 1.12.4 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly handle integer data types of various sizes. Network administrators should also implement additional defensive measures such as monitoring for unusual application crashes and ensuring proper network segmentation to limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of thorough input validation and proper handling of data type boundaries in network protocol analysis tools, as highlighted by industry best practices in secure coding standards and the principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security framework. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on abnormal application behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.