CVE-2017-12900 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2017-12900, a vulnerability in tcpdump versions prior to 4.9.2 allowing buffer over-reads. Find out the impact, affected systems, exploitation, and mitigation steps.
Buffer over-reads were possible in several protocol parsers used in tcpdump versions prior to 4.9.2. Specifically, these over-reads occurred in the util-print.c:tok2strbuf() function.
Understanding CVE-2017-12900
What is CVE-2017-12900?
Several protocol parsers in tcpdump before version 4.9.2 could lead to buffer over-read in util-print.c:tok2strbuf().
The Impact of CVE-2017-12900
This vulnerability could potentially be exploited by attackers to read beyond the intended boundaries of a buffer, leading to information exposure or a denial of service.
Technical Details of CVE-2017-12900
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability in tcpdump versions prior to 4.9.2 allows for buffer over-reads in the util-print.c:tok2strbuf() function.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Not applicable
- Vendor: Not applicable
- Versions affected: Not applicable
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to read beyond the buffer's boundaries, potentially leading to sensitive data exposure or service disruption.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update tcpdump to version 4.9.2 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Monitor security advisories for any patches or workarounds.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and systems to the latest versions.
- Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Patching and Updates
- Apply patches and updates provided by tcpdump to address the buffer over-read vulnerability.