CVE-2017-13048 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
The RSVP parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 has a buffer over-read in print-rsvp.c:rsvp_obj_print().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13048 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw within the resource reservation protocol rsvp parser implementation of tcpdump software. This issue manifests specifically in the print-rsvp.c source file at the rsvp_obj_print() function, where improper input validation leads to memory access beyond allocated buffer boundaries. The vulnerability affects tcpdump versions prior to 4.9.2, making it a significant concern for network security monitoring systems that rely on this tool for packet analysis and network traffic inspection.
The technical implementation flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking when processing RSVP protocol messages during packet capture analysis. When tcpdump encounters RSVP packets, the rsvp_obj_print() function attempts to parse and display reservation information without sufficient validation of the incoming data length against the expected buffer size. This condition creates a scenario where maliciously crafted RSVP packets can trigger memory over-read conditions, potentially exposing sensitive data from adjacent memory locations or causing application instability. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read errors in software implementations. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with memory safety issues that can be exploited to gain unauthorized information disclosure or cause denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it can be leveraged by attackers to extract confidential information from the tcpdump process memory space. Network administrators who utilize tcpdump for security monitoring, intrusion detection, or network troubleshooting may find their systems compromised when processing maliciously crafted RSVP packets. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that RSVP protocol is commonly used in network infrastructure for traffic engineering and quality of service management, making it a legitimate protocol that would naturally appear in network captures. An attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability to extract sensitive information such as system memory contents, network configuration details, or even credentials if they are stored in adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability also represents a potential denial of service vector, where sustained exploitation could cause tcpdump to crash or behave unpredictably, disrupting network monitoring operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13048 primarily focus on upgrading to tcpdump version 4.9.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the buffer over-read condition. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify other potential buffer overflow conditions in network monitoring tools. The fix implemented in the patched version typically involves adding proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms within the rsvp_obj_print() function to ensure that all parsed RSVP object lengths are validated against available buffer space before memory access operations are performed. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can detect and alert on suspicious RSVP packet patterns, as well as maintaining comprehensive monitoring of tcpdump processes to detect any abnormal behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date network security tools and the critical need for proper input validation in protocol parsing implementations.