CVE-2016-4416 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
epan/dissectors/packet-ieee80211.c in the IEEE 802.11 dissector in Wireshark 2.x before 2.0.2 mishandles the Grouping subfield, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (buffer over-read and application crash) via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4416 resides within the IEEE 802.11 dissector component of Wireshark version 2.x prior to 2.0.2. This flaw specifically targets the handling of the Grouping subfield within IEEE 802.11 packet analysis, representing a critical security weakness that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against affected systems. The issue manifests as a buffer over-read condition that ultimately results in application crashes, effectively disrupting network traffic analysis operations that depend on Wireshark for protocol inspection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of the Grouping subfield values within the IEEE 802.11 protocol parsing logic. When Wireshark encounters a malformed or crafted IEEE 802.11 packet containing an invalid Grouping subfield value, the dissector fails to properly bounds-check the data before attempting to access memory locations. This improper input validation creates a scenario where the application reads beyond allocated buffer boundaries, leading to unpredictable memory access patterns that cause the application to terminate unexpectedly. The vulnerability operates at the protocol dissector level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered simply by capturing and analyzing a single malicious packet.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-4416 extends beyond simple application instability, as it can severely compromise network analysis capabilities for security professionals and network administrators. In environments where Wireshark serves as a primary tool for network monitoring, intrusion detection, or forensic analysis, this vulnerability presents a significant risk of service disruption. Attackers can exploit this weakness remotely by transmitting specially crafted IEEE 802.11 packets to a system running vulnerable Wireshark software, causing the application to crash and potentially forcing network analysts to restart their monitoring sessions. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of packet analysis, making it particularly problematic in security operations centers where continuous monitoring is essential.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input ranges, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 related to network disruption. The flaw represents a classic buffer over-read vulnerability that can be exploited through network-based attacks without requiring local system access. Organizations utilizing Wireshark for network traffic analysis should prioritize immediate patching to address this vulnerability, as it can be leveraged by adversaries to disrupt network monitoring operations and potentially mask other malicious activities. The remediation approach requires updating to Wireshark version 2.0.2 or later, which includes proper bounds checking and input validation for the Grouping subfield within IEEE 802.11 packet processing.