CVE-2016-6513 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
epan/dissectors/packet-wbxml.c in the WBXML dissector in Wireshark 2.x before 2.0.5 does not restrict the recursion depth, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6513 resides within the WBXML dissector component of Wireshark version 2.x prior to 2.0.5, representing a critical denial of service weakness that can be exploited remotely. This flaw specifically affects the packet-wbxml.c file which processes Wireless Binary XML format data during network packet analysis. The WBXML protocol is commonly used in wireless communication standards including Wireless Markup Language and various mobile device protocols, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for network monitoring and security analysis environments where Wireshark is extensively deployed.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the absence of recursion depth restrictions within the WBXML dissector implementation. When Wireshark processes a crafted packet containing malformed WBXML data, the dissector enters an unbounded recursive parsing loop without any mechanism to limit the depth of nested elements or recursive calls. This condition allows an attacker to construct a malicious packet with deeply nested or cyclic WBXML structures that cause the dissector to consume excessive CPU cycles and memory resources. The lack of recursion depth checking creates a path for attackers to trigger stack exhaustion or memory allocation failures that ultimately result in application crashes.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to network security analysts and forensic investigators who rely on Wireshark for packet analysis. An attacker can remotely execute a denial of service attack against any system running vulnerable Wireshark versions by simply transmitting a specially crafted WBXML packet to a network interface being monitored. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it can compromise the integrity of network analysis operations, potentially masking malicious network activity or preventing security teams from conducting proper incident response procedures. The vulnerability affects not only individual workstations but also network monitoring appliances and security tools that utilize Wireshark's dissector framework, creating cascading effects across security infrastructure.
The weakness aligns with CWE-674, which specifically addresses the issue of uncontrolled recursion in software implementations, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1499.1 for network denial of service attacks. Organizations using vulnerable Wireshark installations face potential operational disruptions that could last from minutes to hours while systems are restarted and updated. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where continuous network monitoring is required, such as security operations centers, incident response teams, and network forensics laboratories where the availability of analysis tools directly impacts security posture and incident response capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve upgrading to Wireshark version 2.0.5 or later, which includes proper recursion depth limiting mechanisms in the WBXML dissector. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic, while monitoring for unusual packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should consider deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious WBXML traffic patterns. Additionally, regular patch management procedures should be implemented to ensure all network analysis tools remain current with security updates, and organizations should conduct periodic vulnerability assessments to identify other potential recursion-related issues in their network monitoring infrastructure.