tcpdump up to 4.9.1 Protocol Parser addrtoname.c lookup_bytestring memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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7.9$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in tcpdump up to 4.9.1. Affected by this issue is the function lookup_bytestring of the file addrtoname.c of the component Protocol Parser. This manipulation causes memory corruption. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2017-12894. The attack can be initiated remotely. There is not any exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in tcpdump up to 4.9.1 (Packet Analyzer Software) and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function lookup_bytestring of the file addrtoname.c of the component Protocol Parser. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

Several protocol parsers in tcpdump before 4.9.2 could cause a buffer over-read in addrtoname.c:lookup_bytestring().

The bug was discovered 09/11/2017. The weakness was released 09/14/2017 (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at securitytracker.com. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2017-12894 since 08/17/2017. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 3 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $0-$5k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 103257 (Debian DLA-1097-1 : tcpdump security update), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Debian Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 176147 (Debian Security Update for tcpdump (DSA 3971-1)).

Upgrading to version 4.9.2 eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published 1 days after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (103257). Entries connected to this vulnerability are available at VDB-21822, VDB-21823, VDB-104406 and VDB-104407. Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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Version

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Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.9

VulDB Base Score: 6.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 9.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 103257
Nessus Name: Debian DLA-1097-1 : tcpdump security update
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 53377
OpenVAS Name: Debian Security Advisory DSA 3971-1 (tcpdump - security update)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Upgrade: tcpdump 4.9.2
Patch: github.com

Timelineinfo

08/17/2017 🔍
09/11/2017 +25 days 🔍
09/14/2017 +3 days 🔍
09/14/2017 +0 days 🔍
09/14/2017 +0 days 🔍
09/15/2017 +1 days 🔍
09/18/2017 +3 days 🔍
12/04/2025 +2999 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Product: tcpdump.org

Advisory: 730fc35968c5433b9e2a829779057f4f9495dc51⛔
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2017-12894 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2017-12894
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-106591

OVAL: 🔍

SecurityTracker: 1039307

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 09/14/2017 17:13
Updated: 12/04/2025 18:34
Changes: 09/14/2017 17:13 (78), 11/16/2019 06:49 (2), 01/12/2021 14:55 (2), 12/28/2022 14:50 (4), 12/04/2025 18:34 (17)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:BE1:103

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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