CVE-2017-5341 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
The OTV parser in tcpdump before 4.9.0 has a buffer overflow in print-otv.c:otv_print().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5341 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the Open Transport Virtualization (OTV) parser implementation in tcpdump versions prior to 4.9.0. This flaw exists specifically within the print-otv.c source file at the otv_print() function, where insufficient input validation and bounds checking allow maliciously crafted network packets to trigger memory corruption. The vulnerability arises from the parser's failure to properly validate the length of OTV encapsulated packets before attempting to process their contents, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow stems from improper handling of packet data structures within the OTV protocol parsing logic. When tcpdump encounters an OTV packet, the otv_print() function attempts to parse and display the packet information without adequate verification of the packet boundaries or expected data lengths. This allows an attacker to construct a specially formatted OTV packet that exceeds the allocated buffer space, resulting in memory overwrite conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution or application crash. The vulnerability manifests as a classic stack-based buffer overflow where the parser's internal buffer cannot accommodate the malicious input data, causing adjacent memory locations to be overwritten.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it represents a potential path for remote code execution within systems running vulnerable versions of tcpdump. Network monitoring systems, security appliances, and forensic analysis tools that rely on tcpdump for packet inspection become susceptible to exploitation when processing malicious OTV traffic. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to systems, escalate privileges, or disrupt network operations. The vulnerability affects any environment where tcpdump is used for network traffic analysis, particularly in security operations centers, network forensics environments, and intrusion detection systems that process OTV traffic.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5341 primarily involve upgrading to tcpdump version 4.9.0 or later, which includes proper bounds checking and input validation within the OTV parser implementation. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic, while monitoring for unusual packet patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include deploying network intrusion detection systems with updated signatures, implementing strict packet filtering rules, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify other potential buffer overflow conditions within network analysis tools. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a typical example of how protocol parsing flaws can create remote execution opportunities within network security tools. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and execution techniques, as exploitation can lead to unauthorized code execution within the monitoring environment. Organizations should prioritize patch management processes to ensure all network analysis tools remain current with security updates, particularly those handling protocol-specific parsing functions that may be susceptible to similar buffer overflow conditions.