CVE-2017-5483 : Security Advisory and Response

A buffer overflow vulnerability was discovered in the SNMP parser of tcpdump versions prior to 4.9.0.

Understanding CVE-2017-5483

In print-snmp.c:asn1_parse(), a buffer overflow vulnerability was discovered in the SNMP parser of tcpdump versions prior to 4.9.0.

What is CVE-2017-5483?

The SNMP parser in tcpdump before version 4.9.0 is affected by a buffer overflow vulnerability in print-snmp.c:asn1_parse().

The Impact of CVE-2017-5483

This vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service by sending a specially crafted SNMP packet.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-5483

The technical details of the CVE-2017-5483 vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

The SNMP parser in tcpdump before 4.9.0 has a buffer overflow in print-snmp.c:asn1_parse().

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Version: tcpdump versions prior to 4.9.0

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted SNMP packet to the affected system, triggering the buffer overflow.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2017-5483 vulnerability:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update tcpdump to version 4.9.0 or later to eliminate the buffer overflow vulnerability.
Implement network segmentation to minimize the impact of potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and firmware to patch known vulnerabilities.
Monitor network traffic for any anomalous SNMP packets that could indicate an attack.
Employ intrusion detection and prevention systems to detect and block malicious activities.
Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address security weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by the tcpdump vendor to address the buffer overflow vulnerability.