CVE-2016-9374 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
In Wireshark 2.2.0 to 2.2.1 and 2.0.0 to 2.0.7, the AllJoyn dissector could crash with a buffer over-read, triggered by network traffic or a capture file. This was addressed in epan/dissectors/packet-alljoyn.c by ensuring that a length variable properly tracked the state of a signature variable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2016-9374 represents a critical buffer over-read condition in Wireshark's AllJoyn protocol dissector affecting versions 2.2.0 through 2.2.1 and 2.0.0 through 2.0.7. This flaw falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read errors that can lead to application crashes and potential system instability. The AllJoyn protocol dissector is responsible for parsing and analyzing network traffic related to the AllJoyn framework, which is used for device-to-device communication in the Internet of Things ecosystem. When processing malformed network packets or capture files containing AllJoyn traffic, the dissector fails to properly validate the relationship between signature variables and length parameters, creating a scenario where memory access occurs beyond the allocated buffer boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the packet-alljoyn.c file where the dissector attempts to parse AllJoyn signature strings without proper validation of the data length against the actual available buffer space. This type of flaw represents a classic example of how protocol parsing logic can be exploited through malformed input data, allowing attackers to craft specific network packets or capture files that trigger the buffer over-read condition. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it can potentially enable denial-of-service attacks against network monitoring systems that rely on Wireshark for traffic analysis. Network administrators and security professionals who use Wireshark for forensic analysis or real-time network monitoring could find their tools become unstable or crash when processing malicious traffic containing crafted AllJoyn packets, effectively disrupting network security operations and incident response activities.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal network access and can be achieved through either direct network traffic injection or by processing malicious capture files, making it particularly dangerous in environments where automated network monitoring systems process untrusted traffic. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to technique T1499.002 - Network Denial of Service, as it enables attackers to disrupt network monitoring capabilities. The fix implemented by the Wireshark development team involved correcting the logic in epan/dissectors/packet-alljoyn.c to ensure proper tracking of length variables relative to signature state, effectively preventing the over-read condition. Organizations should prioritize updating to Wireshark versions that include this patch, as the vulnerability represents a significant risk to network security infrastructure that relies on proper packet analysis capabilities. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of thorough input validation in protocol dissector implementations, particularly in network analysis tools that must process diverse and potentially malicious traffic patterns from various communication protocols. The remediation approach demonstrates how proper state management and bounds checking can prevent similar issues in complex network protocol parsing systems, emphasizing the need for robust defensive programming practices in security-critical applications.