CVE-2015-8735 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The get_value function in epan/dissectors/packet-btatt.c in the Bluetooth Attribute (aka BT ATT) dissector in Wireshark 2.0.x before 2.0.1 uses an incorrect integer data type, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid write operation and application crash) via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8735 resides within the Bluetooth Attribute (BT ATT) dissector component of Wireshark version 2.0.x before 2.0.1. This flaw manifests in the get_value function located in epan/dissectors/packet-btatt.c, where an incorrect integer data type is utilized during packet processing. The improper data type handling creates a critical security weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute a denial of service attack against Wireshark applications. When a maliciously crafted packet is processed by the affected dissector, the incorrect integer handling leads to an invalid write operation that ultimately causes the application to crash.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from a fundamental data type mismatch within the Bluetooth ATT dissector implementation. The get_value function processes data from Bluetooth ATT protocol packets, but due to improper integer type specification, memory corruption occurs during the parsing of malformed packet structures. This type confusion results in the application writing to memory locations outside of the intended buffer boundaries, creating an invalid write operation that terminates the Wireshark process. The vulnerability represents a classic buffer overflow condition that can be triggered through network packet analysis without requiring local system access or authentication. This flaw directly aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates how improper integer handling can lead to memory corruption in network protocol dissectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8735 extends beyond simple application crashes, as it can be leveraged to disrupt network analysis operations that depend on Wireshark for Bluetooth protocol inspection. Security professionals and network administrators who rely on Wireshark for monitoring Bluetooth traffic become vulnerable to service disruption when processing maliciously crafted packets. The remote exploitability means that attackers can trigger this vulnerability from outside the local network, making it particularly dangerous in environments where network traffic analysis is performed on potentially untrusted data. This vulnerability affects the core functionality of Wireshark's protocol analysis capabilities, potentially compromising network security monitoring and incident response activities that depend on stable packet analysis tools. The attack surface includes any system running vulnerable Wireshark versions that processes Bluetooth traffic, making it a significant concern for network security operations centers and forensic analysis environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focus on immediate software updates and operational precautions. The primary remediation involves upgrading to Wireshark version 2.0.1 or later, where the integer data type issue has been corrected in the get_value function. Network security teams should implement network segmentation to limit exposure to potentially malicious Bluetooth traffic and consider deploying network monitoring solutions that can detect and filter suspicious packet patterns. Additionally, administrators should configure Wireshark to process only trusted network traffic and implement proper access controls to prevent unauthorized users from injecting malicious packets into the analysis environment. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and type checking in protocol dissector implementations, emphasizing the need for robust software testing practices that include memory safety verification and secure coding standards. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block known malicious packet patterns associated with this vulnerability, while maintaining regular software update schedules to address similar issues in other network analysis tools.