CVE-2017-13003 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
The LMP parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 has a buffer over-read in print-lmp.c:lmp_print().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13003 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw within the Link Manager Protocol (LMP) parser of tcpdump software version 4.9.1 and earlier. This issue manifests specifically in the print-lmp.c source file at the lmp_print() function, where insufficient input validation allows maliciously crafted network packets to trigger unauthorized memory access patterns. The vulnerability occurs when tcpdump processes Bluetooth LMP packets during network traffic analysis, creating a scenario where the parser attempts to read beyond the allocated buffer boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper boundary checking within the LMP packet parsing logic. When tcpdump encounters an LMP packet, the lmp_print() function processes various packet fields without adequate validation of packet length or structure. This allows attackers to construct specially crafted Bluetooth packets that contain malformed LMP data, causing the parser to access memory locations beyond the intended buffer limits. The over-read behavior can lead to information disclosure, system instability, or potentially remote code execution depending on the specific memory corruption patterns.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network monitoring and security analysis environments where tcpdump is deployed. Security professionals and network administrators who rely on tcpdump for Bluetooth traffic analysis and network forensics face potential system compromise when processing maliciously crafted packets. The vulnerability can be exploited by attackers who gain access to the network monitoring infrastructure, making it particularly dangerous in environments where tcpdump is used for security auditing, penetration testing, or network traffic inspection. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as the over-read could potentially be leveraged to execute arbitrary code on systems running vulnerable tcpdump versions.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions in software implementations. This classification emphasizes the fundamental flaw in boundary checking and memory access validation that allows the parser to read beyond allocated memory regions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1046 Network Service Scanning and T1105 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to potentially gain unauthorized access to monitoring systems and execute malicious commands through crafted network traffic. The remediation strategy involves upgrading to tcpdump version 4.9.2 or later, which includes proper buffer boundary checks and input validation mechanisms. Additionally, network administrators should implement network segmentation, packet filtering rules, and monitoring for anomalous Bluetooth traffic patterns to reduce the attack surface and detect potential exploitation attempts.