CVE-2024-24478 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE • 02/21/2024
An issue in Wireshark team Wireshark before v.4.2.0 allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service via the packet-bgp.c, dissect_bgp_open(tvbuff_t*tvb, proto_tree*tree, packet_info*pinfo), optlen components.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-24478 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Wireshark's BGP protocol dissector functionality. This issue affects versions prior to 4.2.0 and stems from improper handling of the optlen component within the dissect_bgp_open function located in packet-bgp.c. The flaw specifically manifests when processing BGP open messages, which are fundamental components of the Border Gateway Protocol used for routing between autonomous systems on the internet. The vulnerability occurs during packet analysis when Wireshark attempts to dissect BGP open messages containing malformed or specially crafted option length values that exceed expected boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the optlen parameter within BGP open messages, which controls the length of optional parameters in the BGP protocol. When Wireshark processes a packet with an invalid optlen value, the dissector fails to properly validate the parameter length before attempting to process the associated optional parameters. This leads to memory access violations or buffer overflows that cause the application to crash or become unresponsive. The flaw falls under CWE-129 Improper Validation of Array Index, as the dissector fails to validate that the optlen parameter falls within acceptable ranges before using it to access memory locations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered remotely through network traffic, making it exploitable by attackers who can send malformed BGP packets to a victim running an affected Wireshark version.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can disrupt network monitoring and analysis operations that depend on Wireshark for protocol inspection. Network administrators and security analysts who rely on Wireshark for troubleshooting, forensic analysis, or security monitoring could experience complete application crashes when processing legitimate network traffic containing the malformed BGP packets. This creates a significant risk for security operations centers and network monitoring environments where continuous packet analysis is required. The vulnerability can be exploited in various attack scenarios including network reconnaissance, where attackers might attempt to identify vulnerable systems or disrupt network monitoring capabilities. The flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.002 for Initial Access through spearphishing attachments, as attackers could potentially embed malicious BGP packets in network traffic to exploit this vulnerability in monitoring systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-24478 primarily involve upgrading to Wireshark version 4.2.0 or later, which includes proper validation of the optlen parameter within the BGP dissector. Network administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially malicious BGP traffic, particularly in environments where BGP monitoring is not strictly required. Additionally, implementing network-based intrusion detection systems with signature matching for known BGP protocol anomalies can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The fix implemented in version 4.2.0 addresses the root cause by adding proper bounds checking and parameter validation before processing the optlen component, preventing the memory access violations that previously occurred. Organizations should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments and ensure their network monitoring tools are kept up to date with the latest security patches to prevent similar issues from compromising their security infrastructure.