CVE-2016-2524 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
epan/dissectors/packet-x509af.c in the X.509AF dissector in Wireshark 2.0.x before 2.0.2 mishandles the algorithm ID, 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 • 07/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2524 resides within the X.509AF dissector component of Wireshark version 2.0.x before 2.0.2, specifically in the epan/dissectors/packet-x509af.c file. This flaw represents a critical denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited remotely through carefully crafted network packets. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of algorithm ID fields within X.509 certificate structures during packet analysis, creating a condition where legitimate network traffic analysis can trigger application instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the dissector's failure to properly validate or sanitize algorithm identifier values when processing X.509 certificates in network traffic. When Wireshark encounters a malformed or specially crafted X.509 certificate with an invalid algorithm ID, the dissector does not implement adequate bounds checking or input validation mechanisms. This leads to memory corruption or unexpected program flow that ultimately results in application crash and complete service disruption. The flaw operates at the protocol decoding level where network packet data is interpreted and displayed, making it particularly dangerous as it affects the core functionality of the network analysis tool.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to network security analysts and forensic investigators who rely on Wireshark for traffic analysis. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious network packets containing malformed X.509 certificates that, when analyzed by vulnerable Wireshark versions, will cause the application to terminate unexpectedly. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it can prevent security professionals from conducting essential network monitoring and incident response activities. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where Wireshark is used for continuous network monitoring or during security investigations where the tool's stability is paramount.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and relates to the broader category of improper input validation issues. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1046 Network Service Scanning and T1499 Endpoint Denial of Service, representing a method for attackers to disrupt network analysis capabilities and potentially interfere with security operations. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that it requires no special privileges or authentication, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can inject malicious packets into the network traffic being monitored. Organizations using affected Wireshark versions should immediately implement mitigation strategies including patch updates, network segmentation to prevent exposure to untrusted traffic, and alternative monitoring approaches to maintain operational continuity.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in network protocol analysis tools and highlights how seemingly minor implementation flaws in dissector components can lead to complete application instability. The remediation approach involves updating to Wireshark version 2.0.2 or later where the algorithm ID handling has been properly addressed through enhanced validation and error handling mechanisms. Security practitioners should also consider implementing network access controls and traffic filtering to reduce exposure to potentially malicious packet content while awaiting patch deployment.