CVE-2016-7975 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
The TCP parser in tcpdump before 4.9.0 has a buffer overflow in print-tcp.c:tcp_print().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7975 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 TCP protocol parser implementation where the print-tcp.c source file contains a function named tcp_print() that fails to properly validate input data lengths before copying them into fixed-size buffers. The buffer overflow occurs when tcpdump processes malformed TCP packets that contain unusually long options fields or crafted payload data that exceeds the allocated buffer space. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a common weakness in software development practices where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft specific network traffic that triggers the malformed TCP packet processing path within tcpdump. When the tcp_print() function attempts to process such packets, it copies TCP header information and options data into local buffers without adequate length validation, causing the program to overwrite adjacent memory regions. This can lead to arbitrary code execution if the overflowed memory contains return addresses or other critical program state information. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in network monitoring environments where tcpdump is commonly deployed to analyze traffic on network segments, as it can be triggered by normal network activity without requiring special privileges or authentication.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network security monitoring systems that rely on tcpdump for packet analysis and intrusion detection. The buffer overflow can cause tcpdump to crash or behave unpredictably, potentially leading to denial of service conditions where network monitoring capabilities are temporarily or permanently disabled. In scenarios where tcpdump is used in automated security monitoring systems or integrated with other security tools, the vulnerability could be exploited to disrupt security operations or provide a foothold for further attacks. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1490 for Inhibit System Recovery, as the exploitation can lead to system instability and service disruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7975 primarily involve upgrading to tcpdump version 4.9.0 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly validate buffer sizes before data copying operations. Network administrators should also implement additional monitoring to detect abnormal tcpdump behavior or crashes that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and bounds checking in network protocol parsers, which aligns with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic that could trigger this vulnerability, while maintaining regular security updates to address similar issues in other network analysis tools.