CVE-2017-9348 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
In Wireshark 2.2.0 to 2.2.6, the DOF dissector could read past the end of a buffer. This was addressed in epan/dissectors/packet-dof.c by validating a size value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9348 represents a classic buffer overflow condition affecting Wireshark versions 2.2.0 through 2.2.6. This issue resides within the DOF dissector component responsible for analyzing Data Over Fiber protocol traffic, which is commonly used in telecommunications and networking environments. The flaw manifests when the dissector processes malformed or maliciously crafted DOF packets, leading to improper memory handling that can result in unpredictable behavior or system compromise. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues and specifically aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where programs access memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the packet-dof.c file in the epan/dissectors directory of Wireshark's source code. When processing DOF protocol data, the dissector fails to properly validate the size parameter before attempting to read from memory locations. This validation gap allows attackers to craft packets with malformed size fields that cause the dissector to read beyond allocated buffer boundaries, potentially accessing adjacent memory regions containing sensitive data or executable code. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate bounds checking mechanisms that are fundamental requirements for secure network protocol analysis tools.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to network security monitoring and forensic analysis environments where Wireshark is deployed. Network administrators and security analysts who rely on Wireshark for traffic inspection may inadvertently expose their systems to remote code execution or denial of service attacks if they process malicious packets containing crafted DOF protocol data. The impact extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Wireshark process, which typically runs with elevated permissions on many systems. This vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and can enable lateral movement within networks when exploited successfully.
The remediation implemented by the Wireshark development team involved adding proper size validation within the packet-dof.c file to ensure that buffer access operations remain within legitimate boundaries. This fix addresses the root cause by validating size parameters before memory operations, preventing the out-of-bounds read condition that previously enabled exploitation. The solution demonstrates proper defensive programming practices and aligns with security best practices for protocol dissector development. Organizations should prioritize updating to Wireshark versions 2.2.7 or later where this vulnerability has been fully addressed, as the fix represents a critical security patch that prevents potential exploitation by malicious actors targeting network analysis tools. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough input validation in network protocol analysis tools and the potential consequences of inadequate bounds checking in security-critical applications.