CVE-2017-5596 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Wireshark versions 2.2.0 to 2.2.3 and 2.0.0 to 2.0.9 were affected by a vulnerability in the ASTERIX dissector that could lead to an infinite loop under specific conditions.

Understanding CVE-2017-5596

This CVE entry addresses a vulnerability in Wireshark versions 2.2.0 to 2.2.3 and 2.0.0 to 2.0.9 related to the ASTERIX dissector.

What is CVE-2017-5596?

In Wireshark versions 2.2.0 to 2.2.3 and 2.0.0 to 2.0.9, a flaw in the ASTERIX dissector could result in an infinite loop when triggered by packet injection or malformed capture files.

The Impact of CVE-2017-5596

The vulnerability had the potential to cause an infinite loop, leading to denial of service or resource exhaustion if exploited.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-5596

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue was located in the ASTERIX dissector in Wireshark versions 2.2.0 to 2.2.3 and 2.0.0 to 2.0.9. The problem stemmed from an integer overflow that could trigger an infinite loop.

Affected Systems and Versions

Wireshark versions 2.2.0 to 2.2.3
Wireshark versions 2.0.0 to 2.0.9

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be exploited by injecting specific packets or using capture files with improper formatting, causing the ASTERIX dissector to enter an infinite loop.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-5596 involves taking immediate and long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Wireshark to a non-vulnerable version.
Avoid opening suspicious capture files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Wireshark and other software to the latest versions.
Implement network segmentation to contain potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that Wireshark is regularly updated to the latest version to mitigate known vulnerabilities.