CVE-2016-7925 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
The compressed SLIP parser in tcpdump before 4.9.0 has a buffer overflow in print-sl.c:sl_if_print().
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7925 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the tcpdump network analysis tool, specifically affecting versions prior to 4.9.0. This flaw exists in the compressed SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol) parser implementation, which is responsible for processing network packets captured from serial line interfaces. The buffer overflow occurs within the print-sl.c source file at the sl_if_print() function, making it a direct memory corruption vulnerability that can potentially be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the packet parsing routine that handles compressed SLIP frames. When tcpdump processes network traffic containing malformed compressed SLIP packets, the sl_if_print() function fails to properly validate the size of incoming data before copying it into fixed-size buffers. This classic buffer overflow scenario allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to stack corruption, heap corruption, or even complete process compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because tcpdump is widely used for network monitoring and security analysis, making systems running vulnerable versions susceptible to exploitation in networked environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it can enable remote code execution when tcpdump is run with elevated privileges or in environments where attackers can inject malicious network traffic. Network administrators who rely on tcpdump for packet analysis, intrusion detection, or forensic investigations face significant risk when using affected versions, as the tool itself becomes a potential attack vector. The vulnerability affects systems where tcpdump is used in promiscuous mode or when processing untrusted network traffic, particularly in security monitoring scenarios where the tool processes packets from multiple sources without proper validation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7925 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to tcpdump 4.9.0 or later, which contain the necessary patches addressing the buffer overflow condition. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure, ensuring that tcpdump is not run with elevated privileges unless absolutely necessary. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for unusual tcpdump behavior, implementing network traffic filtering rules, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected systems. Organizations should also consider implementing network intrusion detection systems that can detect malformed packet patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions, and represents a significant concern for ATT&CK technique T1046, network service scanning, as attackers may leverage such vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to network monitoring systems.