CVE-2026-76920 in Wireshark
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2026
3gpp phone log file parser crash in 4.6.0 to 4.6.7 and 4.4.0 to 4.4.18 allows denial of service
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2026
The vulnerability identified involves a critical flaw within the parsing logic for 3GPP phone log files, specifically affecting versions 4.6.0 through 4.6.7 and 4.4.0 through 4.4.18 of the software in question. This issue manifests as an application crash when processing malformed or specially crafted input data contained within these log files. The root cause lies in insufficient validation checks during the parsing phase, where the parser fails to properly handle unexpected data structures or boundary conditions inherent in certain 3GPP formatted logs. As a result, the software encounters an unrecoverable error state, leading directly to a denial of service condition for any user or system component attempting to access these specific log files.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20 Improper Input Validation and potentially CWE-400 Uncontrolled Resource Consumption if the crash results from memory exhaustion due to malformed input handling errors. The attack vector typically involves an attacker providing a maliciously crafted 3GPP phone log file that triggers the parsing error. This could be achieved through social engineering tactics where a victim is persuaded to open or import a compromised log file, or potentially via automated means if the software automatically processes incoming logs without adequate sanitization. The lack of robust exception handling and boundary checking allows the malformed data to corrupt internal memory structures or trigger illegal operations within the parser module.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is primarily focused on availability rather than confidentiality or integrity in its immediate execution phase. When triggered, the application crashes abruptly, disrupting any ongoing forensic analysis, network monitoring, or troubleshooting activities that rely on these log files. For organizations using this software for security operations centers or incident response workflows, such a crash can halt critical investigations and delay remediation efforts. Furthermore, repeated exploitation attempts could lead to service degradation if the application is configured to auto-restart without proper state recovery mechanisms, potentially causing intermittent outages in dependent systems that rely on continuous log analysis capabilities.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching by upgrading to a version of the software beyond 4.6.7 and 4.4.18 where these parsing flaws have been addressed with enhanced input validation and error handling routines. In environments where updating is not immediately feasible, administrators should implement strict file type verification and sandboxing for any incoming log files before they are processed by the application. Additionally, deploying network intrusion detection systems to monitor for anomalous patterns in data ingestion that resemble known exploitation attempts can provide an additional layer of defense against automated attacks targeting this specific vulnerability vector.
This incident underscores the importance of rigorous input validation practices in software development, particularly when handling complex binary or structured text formats like 3GPP logs which are commonly used in telecommunications and mobile network forensics. Developers must ensure that all parsing routines include comprehensive checks for data length, type consistency, and structural integrity before processing begins. Security teams should also consider integrating fuzzing techniques into their development lifecycle to proactively identify similar edge-case vulnerabilities in other modules of the software suite. By adhering to these best practices, organizations can significantly reduce their attack surface and maintain high availability standards for critical security tools.