CVE-2017-6471 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Wireshark versions 2.2.0 to 2.2.4 and 2.0.0 to 2.0.10 encountered an infinite loop issue in the WSP protocol due to packet injection or malformed capture files. This was addressed by implementing capability length validation.

Understanding CVE-2017-6471

Wireshark vulnerability with an infinite loop issue in the WSP protocol.

What is CVE-2017-6471?

Wireshark versions 2.2.0 to 2.2.4 and 2.0.0 to 2.0.10 experienced an infinite loop issue in the WSP protocol due to packet injection or malformed capture files. The problem was resolved by introducing capability length validation in the epan/dissectors/packet-wsp.c file.

The Impact of CVE-2017-6471

Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to cause a denial of service (DoS) by triggering an infinite loop in Wireshark.
Malicious actors could potentially crash Wireshark by injecting specially crafted packets or using malformed capture files.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-6471

Wireshark vulnerability technical specifics.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Wireshark versions 2.2.0 to 2.2.4 and 2.0.0 to 2.0.10 allowed for an infinite loop in the WSP protocol, which could be triggered by packet injection or malformed capture files. The issue was mitigated by adding capability length validation in the epan/dissectors/packet-wsp.c file.

Affected Systems and Versions

Wireshark versions 2.2.0 to 2.2.4
Wireshark versions 2.0.0 to 2.0.10

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be exploited by:

Injecting packets to trigger the infinite loop
Using malformed capture files to exploit the WSP protocol

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2017-6471.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Wireshark to the latest patched version.
Avoid opening suspicious or untrusted capture files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Wireshark and other software to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation to contain potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Apply official patches and updates provided by Wireshark to fix the vulnerability.