CVE-2015-6244 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The dissect_zbee_secure function in epan/dissectors/packet-zbee-security.c in the ZigBee dissector in Wireshark 1.12.x before 1.12.7 improperly relies on length fields contained in packet data, 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 • 06/13/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-6244 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Wireshark's ZigBee security dissector module. This issue affects versions 1.12.x prior to 1.12.7 and stems from improper validation of length fields within packet data structures. The dissect_zbee_secure function fails to adequately verify the integrity and bounds of length parameters that are embedded within ZigBee security protocol packets, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the dissector's behavior through crafted packet payloads.
The technical flaw manifests when the dissector processes ZigBee security frames that contain malformed length fields. These length indicators are used to determine how much data to parse and analyze within the packet structure, but the vulnerability allows attackers to provide values that exceed expected boundaries. When the dissector attempts to process these invalid length values, it can lead to memory corruption scenarios that ultimately result in application crashes. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of length fields, and represents a classic buffer overflow condition that can be exploited to achieve denial of service outcomes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, as it can be leveraged by remote attackers to disrupt network monitoring and analysis operations. Network security professionals who rely on Wireshark for protocol analysis and troubleshooting become vulnerable to attacks that can render their monitoring tools ineffective. This particular flaw is especially concerning in environments where continuous network traffic analysis is critical, as the denial of service can occur without requiring authentication or privileged access. The vulnerability can be exploited through passive network sniffing, making it particularly dangerous in shared network environments where attackers can simply observe traffic and craft malicious packets to target vulnerable Wireshark installations.
The security implications of CVE-2015-6244 align with several ATT&CK tactics including TA0005 (Defense Evasion) and TA0008 (Lateral Movement) as the vulnerability enables attackers to disrupt network monitoring capabilities that are essential for detecting and responding to other security incidents. Organizations that depend on Wireshark for network forensics, intrusion detection, and protocol analysis face significant operational risks when exposed to this vulnerability. The flaw demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in network protocol dissectors, as these components must handle malformed data gracefully without crashing the entire application. Mitigation efforts should focus on upgrading to Wireshark 1.12.7 or later versions where the length field validation has been properly implemented, along with implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, network administrators should consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious packet patterns that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.