CVE-2016-6507 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
epan/dissectors/packet-mmse.c in the MMSE dissector in Wireshark 1.12.x before 1.12.13 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6507 resides within the MMSE dissector component of Wireshark, specifically in the file packet-mmse.c located in the epan/dissectors directory. This issue affects Wireshark versions 1.12.x prior to 1.12.13, representing a critical denial of service weakness that can be exploited remotely by attackers. The MMSE protocol, or Message Manipulation and Security Extension, is used for handling multimedia messaging services within telecommunications networks, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for network monitoring and security analysis environments where Wireshark is extensively deployed.
The technical flaw manifests as an infinite loop condition that occurs when the MMSE dissector processes malformed or crafted packets. When Wireshark encounters a specially crafted packet that conforms to the MMSE protocol structure but contains anomalous data sequences, the dissector enters an infinite loop during the packet parsing phase. This occurs due to inadequate input validation and boundary checking within the packet processing logic, where the dissector fails to properly handle edge cases or malformed data structures that should trigger error conditions or early termination. The vulnerability stems from a lack of proper loop termination conditions in the dissector's parsing routines, causing the application to consume excessive CPU resources and effectively freeze the analysis process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can severely compromise network monitoring capabilities and security operations. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can cause Wireshark to become unresponsive, effectively rendering the network analysis tool useless for its intended purpose. This denial of service condition affects both network administrators and security analysts who rely on Wireshark for real-time packet analysis, traffic monitoring, and incident response activities. The infinite loop consumes system resources continuously, potentially leading to system instability or complete system hangs, particularly in environments where Wireshark is running on resource-constrained devices or servers handling high-volume network traffic.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6507 primarily involve upgrading to Wireshark version 1.12.13 or later, which contains the patched dissector implementation that properly handles malformed MMSE packets. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic, while monitoring for unusual network behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-835, which describes the weakness of an infinite loop or infinite recursion in software systems, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1499.002, which involves network disruption through denial of service attacks. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious packet patterns that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability, while maintaining regular patch management processes to ensure all network analysis tools remain up to date with the latest security fixes.