CVE-2017-13015 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
The EAP parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 has a buffer over-read in print-eap.c:eap_print().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13015 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw within the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) parser implementation of tcpdump software. This issue manifests specifically in the print-eap.c source file at the eap_print() function, where inadequate input validation leads to memory access violations that can potentially be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability affects tcpdump versions prior to 4.9.2, making it a significant concern for network security professionals who rely on this widely-used packet analysis tool for network monitoring and troubleshooting activities.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from improper boundary checking within the EAP packet parsing logic. When tcpdump processes EAP frames containing malformed or specially crafted data, the eap_print() function fails to validate the length of incoming EAP data structures before attempting to read beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This condition creates a scenario where an attacker can construct malicious EAP packets that trigger memory over-read conditions, potentially leading to information disclosure, application crashes, or in more severe cases, arbitrary code execution depending on the specific system configuration and memory layout. The vulnerability operates at the protocol parsing layer, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered simply by capturing and processing network traffic containing malicious EAP frames.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it represents a potential entry point for sophisticated attack vectors within network monitoring environments. Network administrators who deploy tcpdump for security monitoring, intrusion detection, or forensic analysis may find their systems compromised if they process packets from untrusted sources without proper input sanitization. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where tcpdump is used for live packet capture on network segments containing potentially malicious traffic, as it can be exploited through passive network monitoring activities without requiring direct system compromise. This makes it a significant concern for security operations centers, network forensics teams, and organizations relying on tcpdump for network visibility and threat detection.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13015 primarily focus on immediate software updates to tcpdump version 4.9.2 or later, which includes patched implementations of the EAP parser with proper buffer boundary validation. Network security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected tcpdump versions and prioritize patch deployment across their infrastructure. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit exposure to potentially malicious EAP traffic, deploying intrusion detection systems with signature-based detection for EAP-related anomalies, and establishing network monitoring procedures that can identify unusual packet processing behaviors. Organizations should also consider implementing network access controls that restrict EAP traffic to trusted network segments and maintain regular vulnerability scanning schedules to identify similar issues in other network analysis tools and security infrastructure components. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and could potentially be leveraged by adversaries following ATT&CK techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation through network reconnaissance activities.