CVE-2015-8728 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The Mobile Identity parser in (1) epan/dissectors/packet-ansi_a.c in the ANSI A dissector and (2) epan/dissectors/packet-gsm_a_common.c in the GSM A dissector in Wireshark 1.12.x before 1.12.9 and 2.0.x before 2.0.1 improperly uses the tvb_bcd_dig_to_wmem_packet_str function, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (buffer overflow and application crash) via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8728 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Wireshark's packet parsing infrastructure that affects multiple dissector components. This issue manifests in the Mobile Identity parser functionality where the application improperly handles binary coded decimal digit conversion operations through the tvb_bcd_dig_to_wmem_packet_str function. The vulnerability exists in both the ANSI A dissector and GSM A dissector components, specifically within the epan/dissectors/packet-ansi_a.c and epan/dissectors/packet-gsm_a_common.c files. The flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking during the processing of mobile network protocol packets, creating an exploitable condition that can be triggered by maliciously crafted network traffic.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when Wireshark processes network packets containing specially crafted Mobile Identity information. The tvb_bcd_dig_to_wmem_packet_str function, which is designed to convert binary coded decimal digits to a formatted string representation for display purposes, fails to properly validate input boundaries. When processing malformed packets, the function attempts to write data beyond allocated memory buffers, resulting in memory corruption that ultimately leads to application instability. This improper memory handling pattern creates a classic buffer overflow condition that can be reliably exploited by remote attackers without requiring any special privileges or authentication.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to network monitoring and security analysis operations that rely on Wireshark for protocol analysis. The remote code execution capability allows attackers to cause complete application crashes, effectively rendering the network analysis tool unusable for legitimate monitoring purposes. This denial of service condition can be particularly devastating in production environments where network analysts depend on continuous packet capture and analysis capabilities. The vulnerability affects multiple Wireshark versions including 1.12.x versions before 1.12.9 and 2.0.x versions before 2.0.1, indicating a prolonged period during which the flaw remained unaddressed and potentially exploitable in various deployment scenarios.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes the classic buffer overflow condition where data is written beyond the boundaries of a fixed-length buffer. Additionally, this flaw maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007, representing the use of remote services or network protocols to execute malicious code. The attack vector requires minimal sophistication as attackers only need to craft a single malformed packet to trigger the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for network administrators who may unknowingly process malicious traffic during routine monitoring activities. Organizations using Wireshark for network security operations should consider this vulnerability as a high-priority threat that could be exploited to disrupt critical network analysis functions and potentially mask more sophisticated attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of affected Wireshark versions to the latest stable releases containing the necessary memory boundary checks and input validation improvements. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and packet filtering rules to prevent the processing of suspicious or untrusted network traffic that might contain maliciously crafted packets. Regular security updates and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to ensure that all network analysis tools remain protected against similar buffer overflow conditions. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on unusual packet patterns may help identify potential exploitation attempts before they cause significant disruption to network operations.