CVE-2017-12893 : Security Advisory and Response

A buffer over-read vulnerability was identified in the smbutil.c:name_len() function of the SMB/CIFS parser in tcpdump versions prior to 4.9.2.

Understanding CVE-2017-12893

This CVE entry describes a specific vulnerability affecting tcpdump versions before 4.9.2.

What is CVE-2017-12893?

The vulnerability involves a buffer over-read in the smbutil.c:name_len() function of the SMB/CIFS parser in tcpdump versions earlier than 4.9.2.

The Impact of CVE-2017-12893

The vulnerability could potentially allow an attacker to exploit the buffer over-read issue, leading to information disclosure or a denial of service (DoS) condition.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-12893

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE-2017-12893 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The SMB/CIFS parser in tcpdump before version 4.9.2 is susceptible to a buffer over-read in the smbutil.c:name_len() function.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected System: tcpdump
Affected Versions: Versions earlier than 4.9.2

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by crafting a malicious SMB/CIFS packet to trigger the buffer over-read in the smbutil.c:name_len() function.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-12893 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update tcpdump to version 4.9.2 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor vendor security advisories for patches and updates.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and firmware to the latest versions.
Implement network segmentation to minimize the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the vendor promptly to address the buffer over-read vulnerability in tcpdump.