CVE-2017-13725 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
The IPv6 routing header parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 has a buffer over-read in print-rt6.c:rt6_print().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13725 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw within the tcpdump network packet analysis tool that affects versions prior to 4.9.2. This issue specifically resides in the IPv6 routing header parser implementation, where the software fails to properly validate input data when processing routing headers in IPv6 packets. The vulnerability manifests in the print-rt6.c source file within the rt6_print() function, which is responsible for displaying IPv6 routing header information to users during packet analysis operations. When tcpdump encounters malformed or specially crafted IPv6 packets containing routing headers, the parser attempts to read beyond the boundaries of allocated memory buffers, potentially leading to unpredictable behavior and system instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking during the parsing of IPv6 routing headers, which are used to specify the route that packets should take through an IPv6 network. According to CWE-129, this flaw represents an insufficient input validation issue that allows for improper handling of buffer boundaries during data processing. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the network protocol parsing level, where attackers can exploit it through crafted network traffic without requiring elevated privileges. The buffer over-read condition occurs when the parser attempts to access memory locations beyond the actual allocated buffer space, potentially exposing sensitive data or causing application crashes that could be leveraged for denial-of-service attacks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to network monitoring and security analysis systems that rely on tcpdump for packet inspection. Attackers could craft malicious IPv6 packets containing malformed routing headers to trigger the buffer over-read condition, potentially causing tcpdump to crash or behave unpredictably during network analysis operations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1499 Endpoint Denial of Service, as it can be exploited to disrupt network monitoring capabilities and potentially gain insights into system memory structures. Organizations using tcpdump for network security monitoring, intrusion detection, or forensic analysis may experience service interruptions when processing malicious traffic, leading to gaps in network visibility and potential security blind spots.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13725 primarily involve upgrading to tcpdump version 4.9.2 or later, which includes proper bounds checking and input validation for IPv6 routing headers. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic, while monitoring for unusual packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include deploying network intrusion prevention systems that can detect and block malformed IPv6 packets, implementing proper network access controls to restrict unauthorized packet injection, and maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues in other network analysis tools. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation in network protocol parsers and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of network monitoring tools that process untrusted network data, as outlined in industry best practices for secure network infrastructure management.