CVE-2017-13053 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
The BGP parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 has a buffer over-read in print-bgp.c:decode_rt_routing_info().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13053 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw within the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) parser implementation of tcpdump version 4.9.1 and earlier. This issue specifically manifests in the print-bgp.c source file at the decode_rt_routing_info() function, where insufficient input validation allows maliciously crafted BGP packets to trigger memory access violations. The flaw occurs when tcpdump processes BGP routing information updates, particularly when handling route target routing information fields that exceed expected buffer boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 category of Out-of-Bounds Read, which represents a fundamental memory safety issue that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft and transmit specially malformed BGP packets to a system running an affected version of tcpdump in packet capture mode. When the tcpdump utility processes these malicious packets, the decode_rt_routing_info() function attempts to read beyond the allocated memory buffer, potentially accessing adjacent memory locations that may contain sensitive data or executable code. The buffer over-read can result in information disclosure, application crashes, or in more sophisticated attack scenarios, provide a pathway for remote code execution. This vulnerability directly impacts network monitoring and security auditing systems that rely on tcpdump for traffic analysis, particularly in environments where BGP traffic is monitored for network security purposes.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13053 extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially compromise network security infrastructure. Organizations running network monitoring tools that utilize tcpdump for BGP traffic analysis face significant risk, as attackers could exploit this vulnerability to disrupt network operations or gain unauthorized access to monitoring systems. The vulnerability affects systems where tcpdump is used in promiscuous mode or when analyzing BGP traffic from external peers, making it particularly dangerous in border router environments or network security operations centers. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) techniques, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. The vulnerability also aligns with T1566 (Phishing) and T1595 (Active Scanning) tactics, as attackers could use it to probe network infrastructure for vulnerable tcpdump installations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13053 primarily focus on upgrading to tcpdump version 4.9.2 or later, which includes proper bounds checking in the decode_rt_routing_info() function. Network administrators should also implement BGP traffic filtering and monitoring to detect and block malformed packets before they reach vulnerable systems. Additional protective measures include restricting tcpdump execution to trusted environments, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, and deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious BGP packet patterns. Security teams should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected tcpdump versions and prioritize remediation efforts based on network criticality and exposure levels. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in network security tools, aligning with industry best practices for secure software development and maintenance.