CVE-2017-9343 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
In Wireshark 2.2.0 to 2.2.6 and 2.0.0 to 2.0.12, the MSNIP dissector misuses a NULL pointer. This was addressed in epan/dissectors/packet-msnip.c by validating an IPv4 address.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9343 represents a critical null pointer dereference flaw within the Wireshark network protocol analyzer software. This issue affects versions 2.2.0 through 2.2.6 and 2.0.0 through 2.0.12, specifically within the MSNIP dissector component responsible for analyzing Microsoft Network Monitor IP protocol traffic. The flaw manifests when the dissector processes malformed or unexpected network packets, leading to potential application instability and crash conditions that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the packet-msnip.c file, where the MSNIP dissector fails to properly check for null pointer references before attempting to access memory locations. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-476, which specifically addresses null pointer dereference conditions that can lead to application crashes or potential code execution. The dissector's failure to validate IPv4 address parameters creates a scenario where a null pointer is dereferenced during packet processing, causing the application to terminate unexpectedly.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it could potentially be leveraged for denial of service attacks against network monitoring systems. When an attacker crafts malicious packets designed to trigger this null pointer dereference, they can cause Wireshark to crash, disrupting network analysis operations and potentially providing an avenue for more sophisticated attacks. This vulnerability particularly affects network security professionals who rely on Wireshark for network traffic analysis, as a compromised monitoring tool could leave network infrastructure exposed to undetected malicious activity.
The remediation implemented by the Wireshark development team involved adding proper validation checks for IPv4 addresses within the epan/dissectors/packet-msnip.c file, ensuring that null pointers are properly handled before memory access operations occur. This fix aligns with defensive programming practices recommended by the ATT&CK framework for network monitoring tools, specifically addressing the need for robust input validation in protocol dissectors. Organizations should prioritize updating to patched versions of Wireshark to mitigate this vulnerability, as the fix addresses the core null pointer dereference issue while maintaining the application's ability to accurately analyze MSNIP protocol traffic. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation in network protocol analysis tools, where malformed packet data could potentially be weaponized to compromise security monitoring infrastructure.