CVE-2017-6474 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Learn about CVE-2017-6474 affecting Wireshark versions 2.2.0 to 2.2.4 and 2.0.0 to 2.0.10. Discover the impact, technical details, affected systems, and mitigation steps.
Wireshark 2.2.0 to 2.2.4 and 2.0.0 to 2.0.10 were affected by an infinite loop issue in the NetScaler file parser, triggered by malformed capture files. The problem has been resolved through record size validation.
Understanding CVE-2017-6474
This CVE entry addresses a specific vulnerability in Wireshark versions 2.2.0 to 2.2.4 and 2.0.0 to 2.0.10 related to the NetScaler file parser.
What is CVE-2017-6474?
The vulnerability involved an infinite loop in the NetScaler file parser due to malformed capture files when using Wireshark versions 2.2.0 to 2.2.4 and 2.0.0 to 2.0.10.
The Impact of CVE-2017-6474
The issue could lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition by causing an infinite loop, potentially affecting the availability of the Wireshark application.
Technical Details of CVE-2017-6474
This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the CVE.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability stemmed from a flaw in the NetScaler file parser, resulting in an infinite loop when processing malformed capture files.
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 an attacker crafting a specially malformed capture file to trigger the infinite loop in the NetScaler file parser.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2017-6474 involves taking immediate steps and implementing long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Wireshark to the latest version to ensure the vulnerability is patched.
- Avoid opening suspicious or untrusted capture files.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and applications to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
- Employ network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Patching and Updates
Ensure that all systems running affected versions of Wireshark are promptly updated with the latest patches to address the NetScaler file parser infinite loop vulnerability.