CVE-2016-9372 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
In Wireshark 2.2.0 to 2.2.1, the Profinet I/O dissector could loop excessively, triggered by network traffic or a capture file. This was addressed in plugins/profinet/packet-pn-rtc-one.c by rejecting input with too many I/O objects.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2016-9372 represents a critical denial of service flaw in Wireshark versions 2.2.0 through 2.2.1 that specifically affects the Profinet I/O dissector component. This issue demonstrates a classic infinite loop vulnerability that can be triggered through network traffic or capture files containing maliciously crafted Profinet protocol data. The flaw exists within the packet-pn-rtc-one.c file in the Wireshark plugin architecture, where the dissector fails to properly validate input parameters during protocol parsing operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the Profinet I/O dissector logic. When processing network packets or capture files containing Profinet protocol data, the dissector enters an infinite loop when encountering input with an excessive number of I/O objects. This condition causes the Wireshark application to consume excessive CPU resources and become unresponsive, effectively rendering the network analysis tool unusable for legitimate network monitoring activities. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-835, which describes the weakness of an infinite loop or infinite recursion in software implementations, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, as it provides attackers with a method to disrupt network monitoring operations and potentially compromise network security analysis capabilities. Network administrators and security professionals who rely on Wireshark for network traffic analysis and troubleshooting would face significant operational challenges when this vulnerability is exploited. The flaw particularly affects industrial network environments where Profinet protocol is commonly used for industrial automation and control systems, making it a serious concern for operational technology security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-9372 involve immediate patching of affected Wireshark installations to version 2.2.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes in the plugins/profinet/packet-pn-rtc-one.c file. The fix implements proper input validation by rejecting packets with excessive I/O objects, preventing the infinite loop condition from occurring. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous Profinet traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security updates and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to ensure all network analysis tools remain protected against similar issues, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in protocol dissector implementations within network analysis software.