CVE-2018-14469 in tcpdump
Summary
by MITRE
The IKEv1 parser in tcpdump before 4.9.3 has a buffer over-read in print-isakmp.c:ikev1_n_print().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14469 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw within the Internet Key Exchange version 1 implementation of the tcpdump network packet analyzer. This issue specifically affects versions prior to 4.9.3 and manifests in the print-isakmp.c source file at the ikev1_n_print() function. The vulnerability arises from inadequate input validation and boundary checking when processing IKEv1 protocol packets, creating a scenario where the parser attempts to read beyond the allocated memory buffer. This flaw is particularly concerning as it operates within a network analysis tool that is widely deployed across enterprise and security infrastructure environments, making it a prime target for exploitation by malicious actors seeking to disrupt network operations or gain unauthorized access to sensitive data flows.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when tcpdump processes malformed IKEv1 packets that contain crafted payload structures designed to trigger the buffer over-read condition. When the ikev1_n_print() function attempts to parse these malformed packets, it reads memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive information or causing the application to crash. This behavior aligns with CWE-125, which categorizes out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities as a fundamental flaw in memory safety. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple application instability as it can be leveraged to extract confidential data from memory segments or potentially facilitate further exploitation through information disclosure attacks that reveal system state or internal structures. Network security professionals must understand that this vulnerability operates at the protocol parsing layer, where malicious actors can craft specific packet sequences to trigger the over-read condition during normal network monitoring operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-14469 extends significantly within enterprise security environments where tcpdump serves as a foundational network monitoring tool. Organizations relying on tcpdump for security event analysis, intrusion detection, or network troubleshooting face potential service disruption when attackers exploit this vulnerability through crafted network traffic. The vulnerability's presence in a widely-used packet analyzer creates a substantial risk exposure since it can be triggered simply by capturing specific network packets, potentially affecting security operations centers, network monitoring systems, and forensic analysis platforms. Attackers could leverage this flaw to cause denial-of-service conditions against network monitoring infrastructure or potentially extract sensitive information from the memory space of the tcpdump process, making it particularly dangerous in high-security environments. The vulnerability also represents a significant concern for compliance and audit scenarios where network packet analysis is critical for regulatory requirements and security assessments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-14469 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to tcpdump 4.9.3 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the buffer over-read condition in the IKEv1 parser. System administrators should prioritize patching network monitoring infrastructure and security tools that utilize tcpdump components, particularly those deployed in production environments where network traffic analysis occurs continuously. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic, deploying intrusion detection systems with signature updates that can detect exploitation attempts, and establishing monitoring procedures to identify unusual tcpdump behavior or service disruptions. Organizations should also consider implementing network traffic filtering rules that can prevent the injection of malformed IKEv1 packets into monitored networks, though this approach may impact legitimate network analysis operations. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1046 for network service scanning and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage underscores the need for comprehensive monitoring and detection capabilities that can identify both the exploitation attempts and their potential follow-on activities within compromised network environments.