CVE-2017-13008 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
The IEEE 802.11 parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 has a buffer over-read in print-802_11.c:parse_elements().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13008 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw within the IEEE 802.11 packet parsing functionality of tcpdump version 4.9.1 and earlier. This issue resides specifically within the print-802_11.c source file at the parse_elements() function, which processes wireless network protocol frames during packet capture analysis. The flaw manifests when tcpdump encounters malformed or specially crafted IEEE 802.11 management frames that contain invalid element length fields, causing the parser to read beyond the allocated buffer boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the wireless frame parsing logic. When tcpdump processes 802.11 frames, it expects certain fields to contain valid length values that correspond to the actual data size of subsequent elements. However, the parser does not properly verify that element lengths are within acceptable bounds or that the cumulative data does not exceed the available buffer space. This allows an attacker to construct malicious wireless frames with oversized element fields that trigger the over-read condition, potentially leading to memory corruption and system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios. According to CWE-129, this represents an improper input validation issue that can lead to memory access violations and potential code execution. In practice, attackers could exploit this vulnerability by transmitting specially crafted 802.11 management frames to a victim system running an affected version of tcpdump in monitor mode or packet capture mode. The over-read could result in information disclosure through memory dumping, system crashes, or potentially remote code execution depending on the memory layout and exploitation circumstances. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and control communications and T1566 for phishing attacks involving wireless network manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13008 primarily involve updating tcpdump to version 4.9.2 or later, where the buffer over-read has been addressed through proper input validation and boundary checking. System administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect and filter out malformed 802.11 frames that could trigger this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should consider deploying wireless intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious wireless traffic patterns. The fix typically involves adding bounds checking before buffer access operations and implementing proper error handling for invalid element length fields, ensuring that the parser gracefully handles malformed data rather than attempting to read beyond allocated memory regions.