CVE-2016-7924 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
The ATM parser in tcpdump before 4.9.0 has a buffer overflow in print-atm.c:oam_print().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7924 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the atm parser component of tcpdump software versions prior to 4.9.0. This issue specifically manifests in the print-atm.c source file at the oam_print() function, where inadequate input validation and boundary checking allows maliciously crafted ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) packets to trigger memory corruption. The vulnerability exists because the parser fails to properly validate the length of incoming ATM frames before attempting to process OAM (Operations, Administration and Maintenance) cells, creating a condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory regions beyond the allocated buffer space.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when tcpdump processes network traffic containing malformed ATM packets, particularly those with oversized OAM cell data. The buffer overflow vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows data to be written beyond the boundaries of allocated memory blocks. When an attacker crafts an ATM packet with an excessively long OAM cell, the oam_print() function attempts to copy this data into a fixed-size buffer without proper length verification, resulting in memory corruption that can lead to arbitrary code execution or application crash. The flaw is particularly dangerous in network monitoring scenarios where tcpdump is used to analyze traffic from untrusted sources, as it provides a direct path for remote code execution through carefully crafted network packets.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability to encompass potential system compromise and denial of service conditions. When exploited successfully, the buffer overflow can allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the tcpdump process, potentially leading to complete system compromise if the application runs with elevated permissions. The vulnerability affects network security tools that rely on tcpdump for packet analysis, including intrusion detection systems, network monitoring appliances, and forensic analysis tools. Organizations using affected tcpdump versions face significant risk when processing network traffic from untrusted sources, as a single malicious ATM packet can cause the application to crash or potentially provide a foothold for further attack vectors. This vulnerability particularly impacts environments where tcpdump is used for continuous network monitoring, as it can result in service interruption and potential data loss during attack exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7924 primarily focus on upgrading to tcpdump version 4.9.0 or later, which includes proper input validation and buffer boundary checking within the oam_print() function. System administrators should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic, while also deploying intrusion detection systems that can detect and block suspicious ATM packet patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in network protocol parsers, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage in the context of network traffic analysis tools. Organizations should also consider implementing network traffic filtering rules to prevent the processing of suspicious ATM frames when they are not required for legitimate network analysis purposes. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar buffer overflow conditions in other network monitoring and packet analysis tools that may be susceptible to similar flaws.