CVE-2023-0668 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE • 06/07/2023
Due to failure in validating the length provided by an attacker-crafted IEEE-C37.118 packet, Wireshark version 4.0.5 and prior, by default, is susceptible to a heap-based buffer overflow, and possibly code execution in the context of the process running Wireshark.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0668 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in Wireshark versions 4.0.5 and earlier, specifically within the handling of IEEE-C37.118 packets. This flaw arises from insufficient validation of packet length parameters provided by maliciously crafted input, creating a pathway for remote code execution when the affected software processes such packets. The IEEE-C37.118 standard governs power system communication protocols, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for industrial control systems and power grid monitoring environments where Wireshark is commonly deployed for network analysis and troubleshooting.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within Wireshark's packet parsing logic for IEEE-C37.118 formatted data. When an attacker crafts a malicious packet with an oversized length field, the application fails to validate whether the specified buffer size is reasonable or safe, leading to a situation where memory allocation occurs based on attacker-controlled values. This allows the attacker to write beyond the allocated heap buffer boundaries, potentially corrupting adjacent memory structures and enabling arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the Wireshark process. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow, which is a well-documented weakness in software systems where insufficient input validation leads to memory corruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-0668 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the potential for remote code execution creates significant risk for network monitoring and security analysis environments. In industrial settings where Wireshark is used for analyzing power system communications, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to critical infrastructure monitoring systems. The attack vector requires only that the vulnerable Wireshark instance processes a malicious IEEE-C37.118 packet, which could occur during network traffic analysis or when opening captured network files containing such packets. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments, as it enables initial compromise through network-based attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-0668 primarily focus on immediate software updates to Wireshark version 4.0.6 or later, which includes proper length validation for IEEE-C37.118 packet processing. Network administrators should also implement additional security measures such as network segmentation to limit exposure of Wireshark instances to untrusted network traffic, and consider deploying network monitoring solutions that can detect and block malicious IEEE-C37.118 packets. Organizations using older versions of Wireshark should conduct immediate vulnerability assessments and implement temporary workarounds such as disabling the IEEE-C37.118 protocol decoding or restricting access to Wireshark functionality to trusted users only. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in network protocol analysis tools and highlights the need for robust memory safety practices in security software development.