CVE-2015-8727 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The dissect_rsvp_common function in epan/dissectors/packet-rsvp.c in the RSVP dissector in Wireshark 1.12.x before 1.12.9 and 2.0.x before 2.0.1 does not properly maintain request-key data, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (use-after-free and application crash) via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2024
The CVE-2015-8727 vulnerability resides within the RSVP dissector component of Wireshark, specifically in the dissect_rsvp_common function located at epan/dissectors/packet-rsvp.c. This flaw affects versions 1.12.x prior to 1.12.9 and 2.0.x prior to 2.0.1, representing a critical security issue that undermines the stability of network protocol analysis tools. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of request-key data during packet processing, creating a scenario where memory management becomes compromised. This issue falls under the category of memory safety vulnerabilities and aligns with CWE-416, which addresses use-after-free conditions in software systems. The problem manifests when Wireshark processes specially crafted RSVP packets that manipulate the request-key data structure, leading to unpredictable behavior in the dissecting process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a classic use-after-free scenario where the dissector fails to properly manage memory references during packet analysis. When processing maliciously constructed RSVP packets, the dissect_rsvp_common function maintains references to memory locations that are subsequently freed, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate the application state. The flaw occurs during the packet dissection phase where the dissector attempts to access previously freed memory regions, causing the application to crash or behave unpredictably. This memory management failure represents a fundamental flaw in the software's defensive mechanisms against malformed input data, particularly in protocol parsing components that must handle diverse and potentially malicious network traffic. The vulnerability demonstrates poor resource management practices that violate standard security principles for robust software design.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to network security professionals and organizations that rely on Wireshark for network analysis and troubleshooting. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific RSVP packets that trigger the use-after-free condition, resulting in complete application crashes and denial of service for legitimate users. The impact extends beyond simple disruption as it can compromise the integrity of network analysis operations, potentially preventing security teams from properly investigating network incidents or conducting routine monitoring activities. This vulnerability affects the core functionality of Wireshark as a network protocol analyzer, making it particularly dangerous in environments where continuous network monitoring is essential for security operations. The exploitability of this issue is relatively straightforward, requiring only the ability to transmit specially crafted packets to the target system running the vulnerable Wireshark version, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation.
The remediation for CVE-2015-8727 involves upgrading to Wireshark versions 1.12.9 or 2.0.1 and later, which contain patches addressing the improper memory management in the RSVP dissector. Organizations should implement immediate patch management procedures to ensure all instances of Wireshark are updated to secure versions. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect and prevent the transmission of malformed packets that could exploit this vulnerability. The fix typically involves proper memory management practices including ensuring that pointers are properly invalidated after memory deallocation, implementing proper reference counting mechanisms, or using safer memory management patterns that prevent access to freed memory regions. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their network analysis tools to identify similar memory safety issues that could potentially affect other protocol dissectors within Wireshark or similar network analysis applications.