CVE-2018-5334 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
In Wireshark 2.4.0 to 2.4.3 and 2.2.0 to 2.2.11, the IxVeriWave file parser could crash. This was addressed in wiretap/vwr.c by correcting the signature timestamp bounds checks.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5334 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Wireshark's packet analysis capabilities, specifically affecting versions 2.4.0 through 2.4.3 and 2.2.0 through 2.2.11. This issue resides in the IxVeriWave file parser component which is responsible for processing network capture files generated by IxVeriWave devices, commonly used in network testing and performance evaluation environments. The flaw manifests as a crash condition that can be triggered by maliciously crafted IxVeriWave files, potentially disrupting network analysis operations and compromising the availability of network monitoring tools.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in inadequate bounds checking within the signature timestamp validation logic in the wiretap/vwr.c source file. When the parser encounters IxVeriWave files containing malformed timestamp data, it fails to properly validate the timestamp boundaries before attempting to process the data. This programming oversight allows attackers to craft specially formatted files that cause the parser to access memory locations outside of expected parameter ranges, leading to memory corruption and ultimately resulting in application crash. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, specifically addressing improper validation of array indices and buffer bounds, which is a fundamental security principle in software development.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, as it can significantly disrupt network monitoring and forensic analysis operations within enterprise environments. Network security analysts and engineers who rely on Wireshark for troubleshooting network issues, investigating security incidents, or performing performance analysis may find their tools becoming unresponsive when processing legitimate or malicious IxVeriWave files. This disruption can delay critical network investigations and compromise the overall security posture of organizations that depend on continuous network visibility. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through automated means or during routine network analysis tasks.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to Wireshark versions 2.4.4 or 2.2.12, which contain the patched implementation of signature timestamp bounds checking in wiretap/vwr.c. The fix implements proper validation of timestamp parameters before data processing, ensuring that all timestamp values fall within acceptable ranges before being used in memory operations. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and file validation procedures for IxVeriWave files received from untrusted sources, as part of their broader defensive strategies. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for application execution and T1499.004 for network disruption, emphasizing the importance of maintaining up-to-date network analysis tools to prevent exploitation of such fundamental parsing vulnerabilities that can compromise operational continuity and security monitoring capabilities.