CVE-2016-2530 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
The dissct_rsl_ipaccess_msg function in epan/dissectors/packet-rsl.c in the RSL dissector in Wireshark 1.12.x before 1.12.10 and 2.0.x before 2.0.2 mishandles the case of an unrecognized TLV type, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read and application crash) via a crafted packet, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-2531.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2530 resides within the RSL dissector component of Wireshark, specifically in the dissct_rsl_ipaccess_msg function located in epan/dissectors/packet-rsl.c. This flaw represents a critical denial of service vulnerability that affects Wireshark versions 1.12.x prior to 1.12.10 and 2.0.x prior to 2.0.2. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of TLV (Type-Length-Value) structures when encountering unrecognized TLV types during packet analysis. When Wireshark processes a crafted packet containing an unrecognized TLV type, the dissector fails to properly validate the input, leading to a scenario where the application attempts to read memory beyond the allocated bounds. This out-of-bounds read condition occurs because the dissector does not adequately check the TLV type value before attempting to access memory locations associated with that type. The vulnerability manifests as an application crash, effectively causing a denial of service condition that prevents legitimate network analysis operations from continuing. The flaw is categorized under CWE-129 as an insufficient input validation, specifically involving improper handling of input data structures. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to network security analysts and administrators who rely on Wireshark for network traffic analysis, as remote attackers can exploit this weakness to disrupt network monitoring activities and potentially cause system downtime. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1498 as a network denial of service attack, where adversaries leverage application-level weaknesses to cause service disruption. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as the crash can potentially expose underlying memory corruption issues that might be exploitable for more advanced attacks if combined with other vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer overflow pattern where the application fails to validate the boundaries of data structures before processing them, creating an opportunity for attackers to craft malicious packets that trigger the out-of-bounds memory access. Network security professionals using Wireshark for packet analysis and troubleshooting must be aware that this vulnerability can be triggered by simply opening a maliciously crafted packet file or capturing such traffic, making it particularly dangerous in environments where automated packet analysis is performed. The fix implemented in versions 1.12.10 and 2.0.2 involved adding proper bounds checking and input validation to ensure that unrecognized TLV types are handled gracefully without attempting to access invalid memory regions. This remediation aligns with security best practices for defensive programming and input validation, preventing similar issues from occurring in other components of the application. Organizations should prioritize updating their Wireshark installations to versions 1.12.10 or 2.0.2 to mitigate this vulnerability and protect their network monitoring infrastructure from potential disruption.