CVE-2017-13009 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
The IPv6 mobility parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 has a buffer over-read in print-mobility.c:mobility_print().
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13009 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw within the IPv6 mobility parser implementation of tcpdump software version 4.9.1 and earlier. This issue resides specifically within the print-mobility.c source file at the mobility_print() function, where improper input validation and memory access handling creates a condition that allows attackers to potentially read beyond allocated buffer boundaries. The flaw manifests when tcpdump processes IPv6 mobility packets, which are used in mobile IPv6 implementations to manage location updates and routing information for mobile nodes. The buffer over-read vulnerability occurs during packet parsing operations when the software fails to properly validate the length of mobility headers before attempting to read from memory locations beyond the intended data boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft specially malformed IPv6 mobility packets that trigger the over-read condition during packet analysis. When tcpdump encounters such packets, the mobility_print() function processes the mobility header without adequate bounds checking, allowing memory reads that extend beyond the allocated buffer space. This behavior can potentially expose sensitive data from adjacent memory regions, including stack contents, heap data, or other program variables that may contain authentication tokens, cryptographic keys, or other confidential information. The vulnerability falls under CWE-125: "Out-of-bounds Read" which is classified as a memory safety issue that can lead to information disclosure, denial of service, or potentially remote code execution depending on the memory layout and contents.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13009 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a significant security risk in network monitoring and analysis environments where tcpdump is commonly deployed. Network administrators and security professionals who rely on tcpdump for traffic analysis, intrusion detection, or forensic investigations face potential exposure to sensitive data leakage when processing malformed IPv6 mobility packets. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where tcpdump operates in promiscuous mode or when analyzing traffic from untrusted sources, as it can be exploited through crafted packet injection attacks. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007: "Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python" and T1566.001: "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment" in scenarios where attackers use network monitoring tools as attack vectors, though the specific exploitation requires direct packet crafting rather than traditional phishing methods.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate upgrade to tcpdump version 4.9.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the buffer over-read condition in the mobility parser. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious packet traffic, particularly in environments where untrusted network traffic is processed. Additional defensive measures include deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malformed IPv6 mobility packets, implementing proper network monitoring with alerting mechanisms for unusual packet patterns, and conducting regular security assessments of network monitoring infrastructure. The fix implemented in tcpdump 4.9.2 typically involves adding proper bounds checking and input validation before memory access operations, ensuring that mobility header lengths are verified against available buffer space before any data is read. Organizations should also consider implementing network access control lists to filter out suspicious IPv6 mobility traffic and maintain updated security patches across all network monitoring tools to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in their environments.