CVE-2017-13028 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
The BOOTP parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 has a buffer over-read in print-bootp.c:bootp_print().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13028 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw within the BOOTP protocol parser of tcpdump version 4.9.1 and earlier. This issue resides specifically in the print-bootp.c source file at the bootp_print() function, where improper input validation leads to memory access violations that can be exploited by malicious actors. The BOOTP protocol, which stands for Bootstrap Protocol, is used for network booting and IP address assignment in network infrastructure, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for network security systems that rely on tcpdump for packet analysis and monitoring. The flaw occurs when tcpdump processes malformed BOOTP packets, causing the parser to read beyond the allocated buffer boundaries and potentially access invalid memory locations. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-125, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to information disclosure, system crashes, or potentially remote code execution depending on the execution environment. The issue is particularly dangerous because tcpdump is widely used by network administrators, security professionals, and penetration testers for network traffic analysis, meaning that exploitation could compromise security monitoring systems themselves. When an attacker sends a specially crafted BOOTP packet to a system running vulnerable tcpdump, the application may crash or exhibit unpredictable behavior, potentially leading to denial of service conditions or even allowing for privilege escalation in certain scenarios. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer over-read pattern where the parser fails to properly validate the length of incoming BOOTP packet data before attempting to process it, creating an opportunity for attackers to manipulate memory access patterns. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability directly impacts the ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage, as compromised monitoring systems could provide attackers with additional attack surface or facilitate further exploitation. Organizations using tcpdump for network monitoring, intrusion detection, or security auditing are particularly at risk, as the tool's widespread deployment across network infrastructure makes this vulnerability potentially exploitable in numerous environments. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service to include potential information disclosure through memory corruption, as attackers could potentially extract sensitive data from memory locations that become accessible due to the buffer over-read condition. The fix for this vulnerability required careful code review and implementation of proper input validation within the bootp_print() function to ensure that all buffer accesses remain within the bounds of the allocated memory space, preventing any over-read conditions from occurring during BOOTP packet processing. This remediation aligns with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework, emphasizing the importance of input validation and memory safety in network security tools. Network security teams should prioritize updating their tcpdump installations to version 4.9.2 or later to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability, as the attack surface for such tools is extensive and the potential for cascading security failures makes this remediation critical for overall network security posture.