CVE-2023-4512 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE • 08/24/2023
CBOR dissector crash in Wireshark 4.0.0 to 4.0.6 allows denial of service via packet injection or crafted capture file
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4512 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Wireshark's CBOR (Concise Binary Object Representation) dissector functionality. This issue affects Wireshark versions 4.0.0 through 4.0.6, where a malformed CBOR packet or crafted capture file can trigger a crash in the network protocol analysis tool. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and error handling within the CBOR dissector component, which is responsible for parsing and interpreting CBOR-encoded data within network traffic. When processing maliciously constructed CBOR payloads, the dissector fails to properly handle edge cases or malformed data structures, leading to memory corruption and subsequent application termination.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the CBOR dissector's failure to validate the structure and content of CBOR-encoded data before attempting to parse nested objects or arrays. CBOR is a binary data format designed for efficient transmission and parsing, but when improperly formatted or when encountering unexpected data sequences, the dissector's recursive parsing logic can lead to stack overflow conditions or invalid memory access patterns. The flaw specifically manifests when the dissector encounters malformed CBOR constructs such as improperly terminated strings, incorrect length indicators, or nested structures that exceed expected boundaries. This behavior aligns with common software security weaknesses categorized under CWE-129, which addresses insufficient validation of length of inputs, and CWE-121, which covers stack-based buffer overflow conditions. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which involves network denial of service attacks through the exploitation of software vulnerabilities in network analysis tools.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it can be leveraged by attackers to disrupt network monitoring and analysis operations. Network security professionals who rely on Wireshark for traffic inspection and forensic analysis may find their tools become unavailable when processing legitimate network traffic that contains maliciously crafted CBOR data. This disruption can occur in various scenarios including when analyzing IoT device communications, mobile network traffic, or any network segment where CBOR-encoded data might be present. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where automated network monitoring systems depend on Wireshark for real-time traffic analysis, as an attacker could potentially cause sustained service disruption by injecting specially crafted packets or providing malicious capture files to analysts. Additionally, the vulnerability can be exploited in man-in-the-middle scenarios where attackers intercept network traffic and modify CBOR payloads to trigger the crash, making it a significant threat to network security operations and incident response activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-4512 primarily involve immediate version updates to Wireshark 4.0.7 or later, which contain patches addressing the CBOR dissector vulnerability. Network administrators should prioritize updating their Wireshark installations across all monitoring systems and analyst workstations to prevent exploitation. Organizations may also implement additional protective measures such as network segmentation to limit exposure to potentially malicious traffic, and deploying network intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious CBOR traffic patterns. The patch for this vulnerability specifically addresses the input validation issues within the CBOR dissector by implementing more robust boundary checking and error handling mechanisms. Security teams should also consider implementing traffic filtering rules that can identify and drop CBOR packets with suspicious characteristics, though this approach may impact legitimate network analysis. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include verification of Wireshark versions to ensure compliance with security patches. Organizations maintaining legacy systems or specialized network monitoring environments should conduct thorough testing of updated Wireshark versions to ensure compatibility with existing network analysis workflows and avoid unintended operational disruptions.