CVE-2022-37049 in tcpreplay
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2022
The component tcpprep in Tcpreplay v4.4.1 was discovered to contain a heap-based buffer overflow in parse_mpls at common/get.c:150. NOTE: this is different from CVE-2022-27942.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-37049 affects the tcpprep component within the Tcpreplay suite version 4.4.1, representing a critical heap-based buffer overflow condition that poses significant security risks to network analysis and packet manipulation environments. This flaw exists specifically within the parse_mpls function located in the common/get.c source file at line 150, where improper input validation allows maliciously crafted packet data to trigger unauthorized memory access patterns. The Tcpreplay suite is widely utilized by network security professionals, penetration testers, and researchers for replaying network packet captures, making this vulnerability particularly concerning as it could be exploited during routine network analysis operations.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow stems from inadequate bounds checking within the MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) parsing routine, which processes network packet headers containing label information. When tcpprep encounters specially crafted MPLS packet data, the parse_mpls function fails to properly validate the size of incoming data structures before copying them into fixed-size heap-allocated buffers. This fundamental flaw allows attackers to write beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially corrupting adjacent memory regions and creating opportunities for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability manifests when the application processes malformed network traffic that includes oversized MPLS labels or improperly formatted label stacks, exploiting the lack of proper input sanitization in the packet processing pipeline.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-37049 extends beyond simple denial-of-service conditions, as it creates potential vectors for remote code execution and system compromise within environments where Tcpreplay is deployed. Network security teams and red teams who rely on tcpprep for packet analysis, replay testing, and traffic simulation could inadvertently trigger this vulnerability when processing untrusted packet captures or when analyzing network traffic from potentially compromised sources. The heap-based nature of the overflow means that attackers could manipulate heap metadata and potentially control execution flow through carefully crafted packet payloads, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in automated network monitoring systems or security testing environments where packet processing occurs without human intervention. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, Heap-based Buffer Overflow, and represents a direct threat to the integrity of network analysis tools used in security operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-37049 should prioritize immediate patching of Tcpreplay installations to versions that address this specific buffer overflow condition, as the vulnerability exists in the widely distributed v4.4.1 release. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of systems running tcpprep to untrusted packet data, while also considering input validation measures that filter potentially malicious packet captures before processing. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python, as exploitation may involve crafting malicious packet data to trigger the buffer overflow, and T1566.001 Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, since the vulnerability could be exploited through malicious packet files delivered via email or other attachment-based attack vectors. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual packet processing patterns and memory allocation behavior in systems running tcpprep, while network administrators should maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.