CVE-2016-5359 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
epan/dissectors/packet-wbxml.c in the WBXML dissector in Wireshark 1.12.x before 1.12.12 mishandles offsets, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (integer overflow and infinite loop) via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5359 resides within the WBXML dissector component of Wireshark version 1.12.x prior to 1.12.12. This flaw manifests in the epan/dissectors/packet-wbxml.c file where improper handling of packet offsets creates exploitable conditions that can be leveraged by remote attackers. The WBXML protocol is used for wireless device communication and is commonly encountered in mobile network traffic analysis, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for network security professionals who rely on Wireshark for packet inspection and analysis.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves an integer overflow condition combined with an infinite loop scenario that occurs when processing malformed WBXML packets. When Wireshark attempts to dissect packets containing crafted WBXML data, the dissector fails to properly validate or sanitize offset values within the packet structure. This improper offset handling causes the dissector to enter an infinite loop while attempting to process the malformed data, effectively consuming system resources and rendering the application unresponsive. The integer overflow aspect further compounds the issue by potentially causing unexpected behavior in the memory management and data processing routines that handle packet parsing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can be exploited remotely to disrupt network monitoring and analysis operations. Network security teams who depend on Wireshark for real-time traffic analysis, intrusion detection, and forensic investigations face significant operational risks when this vulnerability exists in their monitoring infrastructure. The infinite loop condition can cause complete application hangs, requiring manual intervention to restart the Wireshark process and potentially leading to extended periods of network visibility loss. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in production environments where continuous network monitoring is critical for security operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5359 primarily involve upgrading to Wireshark version 1.12.12 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly handle offset validation and prevent integer overflow conditions. Security administrators should also implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous packet behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-191, which addresses integer underflow and overflow conditions, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1499.001 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing additional network security controls such as intrusion prevention systems that can detect and block malformed WBXML traffic patterns, particularly in environments where mobile network protocols are prevalent. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include verification of Wireshark versions to ensure protection against this and similar protocol parsing vulnerabilities.