A new vulnerability, CVE-2024-24479, has been discovered that primarily affects Wireshark versions before 4.2.. The exploit centers around a buffer overflow vulnerability, which could allow a remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) attack. This article aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of this vulnerability, including technical details, helpful resources, and potential methods to remediate or mitigate the exploit.

Please note that while this vulnerability is technically listed as being present in versions of Wireshark before 4.2., the vendor has disputed this claim, stating that neither release 4.2. nor any other release was affected. Regardless, it's important to understand the details behind it and to take appropriate action to ensure your systems are secure.

Description of the Vulnerability

The buffer overflow vulnerability in question affects the wsutil/to_str.c and format_fractional_part_nsecs components within Wireshark, a widely-used network protocol analyzer. A malicious attacker could potentially cause a denial of service attack by exploiting this vulnerability in Wireshark installations running on a remote system.

Technical Details of CVE-2024-24479

A buffer overflow occurs when an application attempts to write more data into a buffer than it can hold, which can cause memory corruption of nearby buffer spaces. In this case, the vulnerability arises in Wireshark's wsutil/to_str.c and format_fractional_part_nsecs components.

To further illustrate the issue, let's take a look at the affected code snippet

/* wsutil/to_str.c */
...
/* format_fractional_part_nsecs */
static char *
format_fractional_part_nsecs(guint64 frac_value_to_convert, guint64 divisor)
{
    char frac_str[12];
    ...
    frac_value_to_convert %= divisor;
    g_snprintf(frac_str, sizeof(frac_str), "%.9" G_GUINT64_FORMAT, frac_value_to_convert);
    ...
}
...

The issue exists because the g_snprintf function is used to write fractional values in the buffer "frac_str," but the size of this buffer may not be large enough to accommodate the fractional values under certain conditions.

1. Wireshark Git Repository

2. CVE Details

Exploit Details

Currently, there are no known public exploits for this specific vulnerability (CVE-2024-24479). However, it is crucial to assume that motivated attackers are continuously examining new vulnerabilities for potential exploitation. As threat actors become aware of this buffer overflow issue, they may actively attempt to develop exploits to target Wireshark installations on reachable systems.

Mitigation Recommendations

Given the disagreement between the CVE details listing and the vendor's claim that no releases are affected, it is recommended to review your specific Wireshark version and seek advice from the vendor regarding any necessary updates.

While awaiting further clarification from the vendor, hardening your network through steps like regular software patching, implementing proper firewall configurations, and maintaining strong anti-malware protection can help mitigate the risk posed by any potential exploits of this vulnerability.

Conclusion

CVE-2024-24479 highlights the importance of staying informed and taking proactive measures to secure your systems. While the vendor has disputed the claim that this vulnerability affects any Wireshark releases, it is always a best practice to review your environment, ensure patches are up-to-date, and take necessary precautions to protect against potential threats. With proper understanding and timely action, you can help safeguard your systems from potential exploits arising from vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-24479.

Timeline

Published on: 02/21/2024 19:15:09 UTC
Last modified on: 08/29/2024 20:36:14 UTC