CVE-2016-7934 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
The RTCP parser in tcpdump before 4.9.0 has a buffer overflow in print-udp.c:rtcp_print().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7934 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Real-Time Control Protocol (RTCP) parser of tcpdump software versions prior to 4.9.0. This issue resides specifically within the print-udp.c source file at the rtcp_print() function, making it a fundamental parsing error that affects network packet analysis capabilities. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and boundary checking when processing RTCP packets, which are commonly used in multimedia streaming applications to monitor transmission statistics and quality of service metrics. RTCP operates alongside RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) and is essential for maintaining communication quality in VoIP, video conferencing, and live media streaming applications. The buffer overflow condition occurs when the parser encounters malformed or specially crafted RTCP packets that exceed the allocated buffer space, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or application crashes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft malicious RTCP packets that trigger the buffer overflow during packet processing. When tcpdump encounters such packets, the rtcp_print() function fails to properly validate the size of incoming RTCP data structures, allowing an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations in the application's heap or stack. This memory corruption can result in stack smashing, heap corruption, or controlled pointer overwrites that may enable privilege escalation or remote code execution depending on the system configuration and execution context. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because tcpdump is widely used by network administrators, security professionals, and penetration testers for network monitoring and packet analysis, meaning that exploitation could occur in legitimate network analysis environments where the software is deployed. The flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation in network protocol parsing code.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7934 extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable sophisticated attack vectors that could compromise network monitoring infrastructure. In environments where tcpdump is used for security monitoring, intrusion detection, or network troubleshooting, an attacker could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to network analysis systems or disrupt legitimate monitoring activities. The vulnerability affects systems running tcpdump versions earlier than 4.9.0, which were widely deployed across various operating systems including Linux, BSD, and other Unix-like platforms. Network administrators using tcpdump for real-time packet capture and analysis could face significant operational disruption if exploited, as the buffer overflow could cause the monitoring tool to crash or behave unpredictably during packet processing. This vulnerability also impacts automated network monitoring systems that rely on tcpdump for continuous traffic analysis, potentially creating blind spots in network security monitoring capabilities. The attack surface is broad since RTCP packets are commonly encountered in multimedia applications, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise networks where such traffic is prevalent.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7934 focus primarily on upgrading to tcpdump version 4.9.0 or later, which includes proper input validation and buffer boundary checking within the rtcp_print() function. System administrators should prioritize patching affected tcpdump installations across all network monitoring and security infrastructure. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of tcpdump instances to untrusted network traffic, particularly in environments where the software processes packets from external sources. The implementation of network intrusion detection systems with signature-based detection for malformed RTCP packets can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Organizations should also consider deploying network monitoring solutions that utilize alternative packet analysis tools or implement proper input sanitization within their custom network monitoring applications. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability aligns with various security frameworks including the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 requirements for vulnerability management and system hardening. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) when exploited, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code through network traffic manipulation. Regular security assessments and network traffic analysis should include verification of tcpdump versions and proper input validation implementation to prevent exploitation of similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in network analysis tools.