CVE-2017-13045 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
The VQP parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 has a buffer over-read in print-vqp.c:vqp_print().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13045 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw within the VQP protocol parser of tcpdump software versions prior to 4.9.2. This issue manifests specifically in the print-vqp.c source file within the vqp_print() function, where insufficient input validation allows maliciously crafted VQP packets to trigger unauthorized memory access patterns. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and memory safety issues, with direct implications for network monitoring and security analysis tools that rely on tcpdump for packet inspection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the VQP parser's failure to properly bounds-check data read from network packets before processing VQP protocol information. When tcpdump encounters a VQP packet, the vqp_print() function attempts to parse and display VQP header information without adequate verification of available buffer space. This allows attackers to craft specially formatted packets that cause the parser to read beyond allocated memory boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive data or causing application instability. The flaw operates at the application layer parsing level and specifically affects the handling of Variable Query Protocol data structures that are used in network management and switch discovery operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it creates potential vectors for information disclosure and denial-of-service conditions within network monitoring environments. Security analysts and network administrators who depend on tcpdump for traffic analysis and intrusion detection may experience system instability when processing malicious VQP traffic, potentially leading to complete tool failure or unintended data exposure. The vulnerability affects systems where tcpdump is used for network traffic capture and analysis, particularly in enterprise environments where VQP protocol traffic may be present due to network switch management communications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13045 primarily involve immediate software updates to tcpdump version 4.9.2 or later, which includes proper bounds-checking mechanisms in the VQP parser. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious VQP traffic, while monitoring for anomalous network behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and represents a clear example of how protocol parsing flaws can create security risks in network analysis tools. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged in initial access or persistence phases where attackers attempt to disrupt network monitoring capabilities or gain unauthorized access through network traffic manipulation.