CVE-2024-0211 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE • 01/03/2024
DOCSIS dissector crash in Wireshark 4.2.0 allows denial of service via packet injection or crafted capture file
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-0211 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Wireshark's DOCSIS dissector component in version 4.2.0. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and error handling within the network protocol analysis tool's processing of DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) packets. The DOCSIS dissector is responsible for parsing and interpreting cable modem communication protocols, which are fundamental to analyzing broadband internet traffic over cable networks. When Wireshark encounters malformed or specially crafted DOCSIS packets during packet capture or file analysis, the dissector fails to properly handle the unexpected data structures, leading to a complete application crash.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the dissector's inability to gracefully handle malformed packet headers or unexpected data sequences within DOCSIS protocol frames. This flaw manifests as a buffer overflow or invalid memory access condition when processing specific packet structures that violate expected protocol formats. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because DOCSIS is widely used in cable internet service deployments across residential and enterprise networks, making it a common target for network analysis activities. Attackers can exploit this weakness by either injecting malicious DOCSIS packets into a network capture or by creating a crafted capture file containing malformed DOCSIS data that, when opened in Wireshark, triggers the exploitable condition.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant disruption for network security professionals, network engineers, and analysts who rely on Wireshark for network troubleshooting and security monitoring. The denial of service condition renders the network analysis tool completely unusable until manually restarted, potentially interrupting critical network investigations or security assessments. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where real-time network monitoring is essential, as it could provide an attacker with a method to temporarily disable network analysis capabilities without requiring elevated privileges or direct system access. This makes it a valuable vector for attackers seeking to disrupt network operations or avoid detection during security assessments.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read errors. Additionally, this issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046, which involves network service scanning, as the vulnerability could be exploited to disrupt network monitoring capabilities. The attack surface is expanded by the fact that this vulnerability can be triggered through multiple vectors including live packet injection and file-based attacks, making it particularly versatile. Organizations using Wireshark for network security operations should consider this vulnerability as a high-priority concern, especially those operating in environments where network monitoring is critical for security operations. The recommended mitigation involves immediate upgrading to Wireshark version 4.2.1 or later, where the DOCSIS dissector has been patched to properly validate input data and handle malformed packets without crashing the application.
This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in network protocol analysis tools, where malformed data from untrusted sources could lead to complete application compromise. The DOCSIS protocol specification defines specific packet formats and structures that must be strictly enforced during parsing operations. The flaw underscores the critical need for defensive programming practices in security tools, where the assumption of malformed input should always be considered during development and testing phases. Network security teams should implement additional monitoring for potential exploitation attempts and maintain awareness of similar vulnerabilities in other protocol dissectors within Wireshark. The incident highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining secure network analysis tools in environments where they must process diverse and potentially malicious network traffic while remaining available for legitimate security operations.