CVE-2016-7936 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
The UDP parser in tcpdump before 4.9.0 has a buffer overflow in print-udp.c:udp_print().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7936 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the tcpdump network packet analysis tool. This issue specifically affects the UDP parser component, which is responsible for dissecting and displaying User Datagram Protocol packets in network traffic captures. The vulnerability exists in the print-udp.c source file where the udp_print() function processes UDP packet data. When tcpdump encounters malformed or specially crafted UDP packets during network analysis, the buffer overflow occurs due to inadequate input validation and bounds checking within the parsing routine. The flaw allows an attacker to craft malicious UDP packets that, when processed by an affected tcpdump version, can cause the application to write beyond allocated memory boundaries, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or application crashes. This vulnerability impacts all versions of tcpdump prior to 4.9.0, making it a significant concern for network security professionals who rely on tcpdump for traffic analysis and monitoring. The buffer overflow vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which classifies buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows memory writes to exceed buffer limits. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses a severe risk to network monitoring systems that depend on tcpdump for packet analysis, as attackers could exploit this flaw to compromise systems running vulnerable versions of the tool. The attack surface is particularly concerning because tcpdump is widely used in security operations, network troubleshooting, and forensic analysis, meaning that a successful exploitation could provide attackers with unauthorized access to network monitoring infrastructure or enable them to disrupt critical network analysis operations. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 which involves network service scanning and reconnaissance activities that can be facilitated through manipulation of network packet analysis tools. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as buffer overflows in network analysis tools can provide attackers with opportunities to execute malicious code within the context of the monitoring system. Organizations using tcpdump for network security monitoring, intrusion detection, or forensic analysis should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to prevent potential exploitation. The remediation strategy involves upgrading to tcpdump version 4.9.0 or later, which includes proper bounds checking and input validation within the udp_print() function to prevent the buffer overflow condition from occurring. Additionally, network security teams should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of systems running tcpdump, while monitoring for potential exploitation attempts through anomalous packet patterns or network behavior that might indicate an active attack against vulnerable systems.