CVE-2023-2952 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE • 05/31/2023
XRA dissector infinite loop in Wireshark 4.0.0 to 4.0.5 and 3.6.0 to 3.6.13 allows denial of service via packet injection or crafted capture file
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-2952 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Wireshark's XRA dissector component that affects versions ranging from 4.0.0 through 4.0.5 and 3.6.0 through 3.6.13. This issue stems from an infinite loop condition that occurs when processing specially crafted network packets or capture files containing malformed XRA protocol data. The XRA dissector is responsible for parsing and interpreting XRA protocol information within network traffic, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through both live packet injection and pre-recorded capture file analysis.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a flaw in the dissector's parsing logic where recursive or iterative processing loops fail to properly validate input boundaries or termination conditions. When Wireshark encounters malformed XRA protocol data structures, the dissector enters an infinite loop that consumes excessive CPU resources and prevents the application from processing additional packets or continuing normal operation. This behavior aligns with CWE-835, which specifically addresses infinite loops in software implementations where loop termination conditions are not properly enforced. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with a classic denial of service attack vector that can be triggered without requiring authentication or special privileges.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to network security analysts and forensic investigators who rely on Wireshark for network traffic analysis. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious capture files or injecting specific packet sequences that trigger the infinite loop condition, causing Wireshark to become unresponsive or consume all available system resources. The impact extends beyond simple application hanging, as this vulnerability can be leveraged in automated attack scenarios where multiple instances of Wireshark are running simultaneously, potentially causing system-wide resource exhaustion. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a denial of service technique under the T1499 sub-technique, specifically targeting network analysis tools and their operational availability.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2023-2952 requires immediate patching of affected Wireshark installations to versions that contain the fixed dissector logic. Security administrators should prioritize updating all instances of Wireshark within their network infrastructure, particularly those used for security monitoring and incident response activities. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious capture files can provide additional defense layers. Organizations should also consider implementing automated monitoring for unusual CPU consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation and proper loop termination mechanisms in network protocol analysis tools, emphasizing that even seemingly benign parsing operations can become critical security concerns when proper boundary checks are absent.