CVE-2016-6510 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
Off-by-one error in epan/dissectors/packet-rlc.c in the RLC dissector in Wireshark 1.12.x before 1.12.13 and 2.x before 2.0.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (stack-based buffer overflow and application crash) via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6510 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow in the RLC dissector component of Wireshark, affecting versions prior to 1.12.13 and 2.0.5. This flaw resides within the packet-rlc.c file which handles the Discrete Message Layer Control protocol dissection functionality. The issue manifests as an off-by-one error that occurs when processing specific packet structures, creating a condition where memory operations exceed allocated buffer boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow category, which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue that can lead to unpredictable behavior including application crashes and potential code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the RLC dissector's handling of packet data structures where a single byte overflow occurs during buffer manipulation operations. When Wireshark processes a specially crafted packet containing malformed RLC protocol data, the dissector fails to properly validate input boundaries, allowing an attacker to manipulate memory layout. The off-by-one error specifically affects how the dissector calculates buffer sizes and memory allocation for packet data processing, causing the application to write beyond its intended memory boundaries. This flaw enables remote attackers to craft malicious packets that trigger the buffer overflow condition, leading to application instability and denial of service.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6510 extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors within network monitoring environments. Since Wireshark is commonly deployed in security operations, network troubleshooting, and forensic analysis scenarios, an attacker who can successfully exploit this vulnerability could disrupt critical network monitoring operations. The denial of service condition affects both the network analysis capabilities and the availability of security tools that depend on Wireshark for protocol analysis. This vulnerability particularly impacts enterprise environments where network traffic analysis is essential for security operations and incident response activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6510 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to patched releases of Wireshark, specifically versions 1.12.13 and 2.0.5 or later. Network administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all instances of Wireshark are updated across the enterprise infrastructure. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, deploying network monitoring systems that can detect and alert on malformed packet traffic, and establishing secure network access controls for Wireshark deployment environments. From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1070.004 related to indicator removal on host, as the application crash could mask malicious network activity. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block crafted packets designed to trigger this specific buffer overflow condition.