CVE-2015-8732 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The dissect_zcl_pwr_prof_pwrprofstatersp function in epan/dissectors/packet-zbee-zcl-general.c in the ZigBee ZCL dissector in Wireshark 1.12.x before 1.12.9 and 2.0.x before 2.0.1 does not validate the Total Profile Number field, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read and application crash) via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2015-8732 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw in Wireshark's ZigBee Cluster Library dissector that affects versions prior to 1.12.9 and 2.0.1. This issue resides within the dissect_zcl_pwr_prof_pwrprofstatersp function located in epan/dissectors/packet-zbee-zcl-general.c, where the Total Profile Number field lacks proper validation mechanisms. The flaw specifically targets the ZigBee ZCL (ZigBee Cluster Library) power profile response packet parsing functionality, which is part of the broader ZigBee protocol suite used extensively in home automation and industrial IoT applications. The absence of input validation creates a scenario where maliciously crafted ZigBee packets can trigger unpredictable behavior in the network analysis tool.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking during packet dissection operations. When Wireshark processes a ZigBee power profile status response packet, the dissect_zcl_pwr_prof_pwrprofstatersp function attempts to read data from memory locations based on the unvalidated Total Profile Number field. This field typically indicates how many power profiles are contained within the response packet, but without proper validation, an attacker can craft a packet with an excessively large or negative value. The dissector then proceeds to perform array indexing or memory access operations using this invalid field value, resulting in out-of-bounds memory reads that can span beyond allocated buffer boundaries. This memory corruption ultimately leads to application instability and potential crashes, as the program attempts to access invalid memory regions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to network security analysts and forensic investigators who rely on Wireshark for network traffic analysis. The denial of service condition can be triggered remotely through network packet capture, making it particularly dangerous in environments where automated network monitoring systems process untrusted traffic. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted ZigBee packets to a victim running an affected version of Wireshark, causing the application to crash and potentially rendering network analysis capabilities unavailable. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption, as the application crash may result in loss of critical network data or prevent analysts from performing their investigative duties during security incidents. This vulnerability specifically aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array indices, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can lead to memory corruption vulnerabilities.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2015-8732 involves upgrading to Wireshark versions 1.12.9 or 2.0.1, which contain the necessary patches to validate the Total Profile Number field before processing. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious ZigBee traffic, particularly in environments where Wireshark is used for network monitoring. Additionally, implementing network intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious ZigBee packet patterns may provide an additional layer of defense. Organizations should also consider disabling ZigBee protocol dissection in Wireshark when analyzing untrusted network traffic, as this removes the attack surface while maintaining core network analysis capabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in protocol dissectors, as highlighted by ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for application layer protocol analysis and T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks.