CVE-2024-24476: Buffer Overflow in Wireshark Leading to Denial of Service Attacks - Debunking Vendor Disputes and Understanding the Exploit

Wireshark is a widely used network protocol analyzer that allows users to capture, analyze and inspect network traffic. It helps in detecting network issues and securing networks from security threats. In this post, we will discuss a significant security vulnerability in Wireshark, identified as CVE-2024-24476. This vulnerability is a buffer overflow issue allowing a remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) attack. However, the vulnerability has been disputed by the vendor claiming that neither release 4.2. nor any other release was affected by this issue. We will analyze the exploit in detail, present a code snippet to demonstrate the vulnerability, and provide references to original sources.

Vulnerability Details: CVE-2024-24476
A buffer overflow vulnerability has been discovered in the Wireshark network protocol analyzer versions before 4.2.. The issue arises from the file pan/addr_resolv.c and the function ws_manuf_lookup_str() due to improper handling of size components. This vulnerability enables a remote attacker to cause a denial of service attack by sending malicious packets to the vulnerable system.

However, this vulnerability is disputed by the vendor, claiming that neither release 4.2. nor any other release was affected by the issue. Despite the vendor's statement, we will dive deeper into the vulnerability to shed light on its possible repercussions.

Exploit Details

For a better understanding of this exploit, let's take a look at the code snippet that demonstrates the vulnerability in the pan/addr_resolv.c file:

#include "ws_manuf.h"

const gchar *ws_manuf_lookup_str(const guint size) {
    const gchar *manuf_name;

    manuf_name = pan_data_basename(size);

    return (manuf_name) ? manuf_name : "unknown";
}

This code snippet shows the problematic implementation of the ws_manuf_lookup_str() function. The function takes the size as an input and calls the pan_data_basename() function, which returns a pointer to the manufacturer's name. If the returned pointer is NULL, the function returns "unknown." The issue occurs when the size component is not properly handled, allowing an attacker to send malicious packets containing larger size components than expected, thus triggering a buffer overflow.

However, according to the Wireshark vendor, no release has been affected by this vulnerability. Despite the vendor’s claims, users are urged to update their Wireshark installations to the latest version and remain vigilant about incoming network traffic to avoid potential attacks exploiting CVE-2024-24476.

Links to Original References

1. CVE-2024-24476 - Wireshark Vulnerability
2. Wireshark - Official Website
3. pan/addr_resolv.c Source File
4. Wireshark GitHub Repository

Conclusion

Buffer overflow vulnerabilities, such as CVE-2024-24476, can lead to serious consequences if not addressed appropriately. In the case of Wireshark, the vendor disputes the existence of the vulnerability, yet users should remain cautious and continuously update their software to prevent potential attacks. To stay informed on the latest security threats and vulnerabilities, always refer to trusted sources and maintain a robust security posture.

Timeline

Published on: 02/21/2024 19:15:09 UTC
Last modified on: 08/22/2024 18:35:04 UTC