CVE-2017-13765 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
In Wireshark 2.4.0, 2.2.0 to 2.2.8, and 2.0.0 to 2.0.14, the IrCOMM dissector has a buffer over-read and application crash. This was addressed in plugins/irda/packet-ircomm.c by adding length validation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13765 affects Wireshark versions 2.4.0, 2.2.0 through 2.2.8, and 2.0.0 through 2.0.14, specifically within the IrCOMM dissector component. This dissector is responsible for analyzing infrared communication protocol data within network traffic captures, making it a critical component for network forensics and protocol analysis. The flaw manifests as a buffer over-read condition that can lead to application instability and potential crash scenarios. The IrCOMM protocol is commonly used in wireless infrared communication devices and is part of the broader IrDA (Infrared Data Association) standard that governs infrared data transmission between devices. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 category of out-of-bounds read conditions, which represents a fundamental memory safety issue that can be exploited to disrupt service availability or potentially execute arbitrary code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the plugins/irda/packet-ircomm.c file where the dissector processes incoming packet data without adequate length validation checks. When Wireshark encounters malformed or specially crafted IrCOMM packets during packet analysis, the dissector attempts to read beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, causing memory access violations that result in application crashes. The buffer over-read condition specifically occurs when the dissector fails to properly validate the length of incoming data before attempting to parse it, leading to unpredictable memory access patterns. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in network analysis tools like Wireshark because it can be triggered by simply opening a malicious capture file or processing network traffic containing malformed packets, making it a reliable vector for denial-of-service attacks against network analysts and security professionals who rely on the tool for their work.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it represents a significant threat to network forensic operations and security analysis workflows. Security professionals and network administrators who use Wireshark for troubleshooting, incident response, or network monitoring could find their analysis tools become unresponsive or crash when processing legitimate network traffic containing the malformed IrCOMM packets. The vulnerability creates a potential attack surface where adversaries could craft specially formatted capture files or network packets designed to trigger the buffer over-read condition, effectively disabling the forensic analysis capabilities of the affected system. This disruption could occur during critical security incidents or network troubleshooting sessions, potentially delaying important investigations or preventing analysts from accessing crucial network data. The vulnerability also has implications for automated network monitoring systems that rely on Wireshark for packet analysis, as these systems could experience unexpected outages or failures when encountering the malicious packet patterns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13765 involve immediate software updates to patched versions of Wireshark where the IrCOMM dissector has been modified to include proper length validation checks. The fix implemented in plugins/irda/packet-ircomm.c addresses the root cause by ensuring that packet lengths are validated before buffer operations are performed, preventing the over-read condition from occurring. Network security teams should prioritize updating all Wireshark installations to versions that include this patch, particularly in environments where the tool processes untrusted network traffic or capture files. Additionally, administrators can implement network segmentation and traffic filtering to reduce exposure to potentially malicious IrCOMM traffic, though this approach does not address the core vulnerability in the dissector itself. The mitigation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1070.004 which involves the use of application whitelisting and software restriction policies to prevent execution of unauthorized code, though in this case the focus is on patch management and proper input validation rather than execution control. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect and alert on unusual IrCOMM traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability can be leveraged in targeted attacks against network security tools.