CVE-2019-10896 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE
In Wireshark 2.4.0 to 2.4.13, 2.6.0 to 2.6.7, and 3.0.0, the DOF dissector could crash. This was addressed in epan/dissectors/packet-dof.c by properly handling generated IID and OID bytes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-10896 represents a critical denial of service flaw affecting multiple versions of the popular network protocol analyzer Wireshark. This issue manifests in versions 2.4.0 through 2.4.13, 2.6.0 through 2.6.7, and 3.0.0, where the DOF dissector component fails to properly handle certain input data, resulting in application crashes that can be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt network analysis operations. The vulnerability specifically impacts the DOF dissector which is responsible for decoding Data Object Format (DOF) protocol data, commonly used in industrial communication systems and network monitoring applications.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper handling of generated IID (Instance Identifier) and OID (Object Identifier) bytes within the packet-dof.c file located in the epan/dissectors directory of the Wireshark source code. When the dissector encounters malformed or unexpected byte sequences representing these identifiers, the code fails to validate input parameters properly, leading to memory access violations and subsequent application termination. This type of flaw falls under the category of improper input validation and memory handling issues that are commonly classified as CWE-121, which deals with stack-based buffer overflows, or CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network disruption through resource exhaustion or application crashes, making it particularly dangerous in environments where continuous network monitoring is critical.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, as it can severely compromise network analysis capabilities in industrial control systems and enterprise environments. Network security analysts and engineers who rely on Wireshark for troubleshooting and security monitoring may find their tools becoming unresponsive when processing maliciously crafted network traffic, potentially leading to extended periods of network visibility loss. In industrial settings where DOF protocol is commonly used for communication between control systems and monitoring devices, this vulnerability could be exploited to disrupt critical infrastructure operations, making it particularly concerning for operational technology environments. The crash condition affects both the analyst's ability to perform real-time network analysis and the overall reliability of network monitoring systems that depend on Wireshark for protocol decoding.
The remediation for this vulnerability was implemented through careful code review and modification of the packet-dof.c file, specifically addressing how the dissector handles generated IID and OID bytes. The fix ensures that all input parameters are properly validated before processing, preventing the memory access violations that previously led to crashes. This approach aligns with defensive programming practices recommended in various cybersecurity frameworks and standards, including those from NIST and ISO/IEC 27001, which emphasize proper input validation and error handling as fundamental security controls. Organizations should prioritize updating their Wireshark installations to versions that include this fix, as the vulnerability affects multiple major release lines and could be exploited by attackers targeting network monitoring infrastructure. The fix demonstrates the importance of thorough testing and validation of protocol dissectors, particularly in security tools that process potentially malicious network traffic, as highlighted in the ATT&CK framework's emphasis on maintaining resilient security tooling through proper code quality and input validation practices.