Wireshark up to 3.6.9/4.0.1 Kafka Protocol Dissector memory leak

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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4.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as problematic has been found in Wireshark up to 3.6.9/4.0.1. The impacted element is an unknown function of the component Kafka Protocol Dissector. Such manipulation leads to memory leak. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2022-4344. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. No exploit is available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Wireshark up to 3.6.9/4.0.1 (Packet Analyzer Software). It has been rated as problematic. Affected by this issue is an unknown part of the component Kafka Protocol Dissector. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory leak vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-401. The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, which slowly consumes remaining memory. Impacted is availability. CVE summarizes:

Memory exhaustion in the Kafka protocol dissector in Wireshark 4.0.0 to 4.0.1 and 3.6.0 to 3.6.9 allows denial of service via packet injection or crafted capture file

The weakness was published 01/12/2023. The advisory is shared for download at wireshark.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2022-4344 since 12/07/2022. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1499.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 207910 (Debian dla-3906 : libwireshark-data - security update), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 3.6.10 or 4.0.2 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (207910). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.5

VulDB Base Score: 3.1
VulDB Temp Score: 3.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 4.3
NVD Vector: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 6.3
CNA Vector (GitLab Inc.): 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory leak
CWE: CWE-401 / CWE-404
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: 207910
Nessus Name: Debian dla-3906 : libwireshark-data - security update

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Wireshark 3.6.10/4.0.2

Timelineinfo

12/07/2022 🔍
01/12/2023 +36 days 🔍
01/12/2023 +0 days 🔍
05/07/2026 +1211 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Product: wireshark.org

Advisory: wireshark.org
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2022-4344 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2022-4344
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-218060

Entryinfo

Created: 01/12/2023 07:53
Updated: 05/07/2026 10:41
Changes: 01/12/2023 07:53 (39), 02/04/2023 11:17 (21), 10/02/2024 19:09 (17), 04/28/2025 06:56 (3), 11/05/2025 14:20 (1), 05/07/2026 10:38 (2), 05/07/2026 10:41 (4)
Complete: 🔍
Committer: lywand
Cache ID: 216::103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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