CVE-2016-6160 in tcpreplay
Summary
by MITRE
tcprewrite in tcpreplay before 4.1.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (segmentation fault) via a large frame, a related issue to CVE-2017-14266.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6160 affects tcprewrite, a component of the tcpreplay suite, which is widely used for replaying tcpdump pcap files and manipulating packet headers for network testing and analysis purposes. This particular flaw exists in versions prior to 4.1.2 and represents a classic denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited remotely by attackers to disrupt the normal operation of systems relying on tcpreplay functionality. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the tcprewrite utility processes packet frames that exceed normal size parameters, leading to a segmentation fault that terminates the application unexpectedly.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the packet processing logic of tcprewrite. When the utility encounters a packet frame that is excessively large, the application fails to properly handle the oversized data structure, resulting in memory access violations that trigger a segmentation fault. This behavior aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a fundamental flaw in how the application manages memory allocation and data processing for packet frames. The vulnerability demonstrates poor defensive programming practices where the software does not adequately validate packet size limits or implement proper error handling for exceptional data conditions.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6160 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can severely compromise network testing and analysis workflows that depend on tcpreplay utilities. Organizations using this tool for security testing, network performance evaluation, or packet manipulation tasks may experience unexpected application crashes that interrupt critical testing procedures. In environments where automated testing pipelines rely on tcpreplay functionality, this vulnerability could lead to complete test failures and potentially mask underlying security issues by preventing proper network traffic analysis. The remote exploitation aspect means that attackers could trigger these crashes from external networks without requiring local system access, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for systems that process untrusted network traffic.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including TA0043 (Reconnaissance) and TA0045 (Security Testing) where attackers might use such flaws to disrupt network analysis capabilities. The vulnerability also aligns with T1562.001 (Impair Defenses) as it can be used to disable or impair the functionality of network security tools. Organizations implementing network security testing frameworks that utilize tcpreplay should consider this vulnerability as part of their risk assessment, particularly in environments where network traffic analysis tools are critical for security operations. The flaw represents a significant concern for red team operations, penetration testing environments, and network monitoring systems that depend on reliable packet processing capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6160 primarily focus on upgrading to tcpreplay version 4.1.2 or later, which includes proper input validation and memory management improvements. Administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of systems running tcpreplay to untrusted networks. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for abnormal application termination patterns and implementing robust error handling in automated testing frameworks that utilize tcpreplay. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of input validation and proper memory management in network security tools, particularly those handling untrusted packet data. Organizations should also consider implementing network traffic filtering rules that can prevent oversized frames from reaching systems running tcpreplay, providing an additional layer of defense against similar vulnerabilities.