CVE-2016-4083 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
epan/dissectors/packet-mswsp.c in the MS-WSP dissector in Wireshark 2.0.x before 2.0.3 does not ensure that data is available before array allocation, 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 • 07/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4083 resides within the MS-WSP dissector component of Wireshark version 2.0.x prior to 2.0.3. This flaw specifically affects the packet-mswsp.c file which processes Microsoft Windows Sockets Protocol packets. The issue manifests when the dissector fails to validate the presence of sufficient data before attempting array allocation operations, creating a condition where malformed packet data can trigger unexpected behavior in the network protocol analysis tool.
This vulnerability represents a classic buffer over-read and memory management error that falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, specifically addressing insufficient validation of array index values. The flaw occurs during the packet parsing process where the dissector attempts to allocate memory for array structures without first confirming that adequate data exists within the captured packet to populate those arrays. When attackers craft malicious packets containing insufficient data or malformed structures, the dissector proceeds with allocation operations that ultimately lead to memory corruption and application instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can be exploited remotely by attackers who send specially crafted MS-WSP packets to a victim running an affected version of Wireshark. When such packets are processed, the application crashes due to memory access violations, effectively rendering the network analysis tool unusable for the duration of the session. This creates a significant risk for network security professionals who rely on Wireshark for critical network monitoring and forensic analysis activities, as the tool becomes unavailable during active network investigations.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 which involves network disruption through application or system crashes. The remote exploitation capability means that adversaries can potentially disrupt network analysis operations without requiring local access to the target system. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of Wireshark by targeting its protocol dissector architecture, which is fundamental to the tool's operation. Organizations using Wireshark for network security monitoring, incident response, and forensic analysis face significant operational risk when exposed to this vulnerability, as it can be exploited to deny access to critical network visibility capabilities.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrading to Wireshark version 2.0.3 or later, which includes the necessary patches to validate data availability before array allocation operations. Additionally, network administrators should implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect and prevent the injection of malformed packets into network traffic. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls and intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious packet patterns associated with this specific vulnerability. Regular patch management processes should be reinforced to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all network analysis tools and infrastructure components.