CVE-2017-7703 : Security Advisory and Response

Wireshark versions 2.2.0 to 2.2.5 and 2.0.0 to 2.0.11 were vulnerable to a crash in the IMAP dissector under specific conditions. Learn about the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.

Understanding CVE-2017-7703

Wireshark versions 2.2.0 to 2.2.5 and 2.0.0 to 2.0.11 had a vulnerability in the IMAP dissector that could lead to a crash.

What is CVE-2017-7703?

The vulnerability in Wireshark versions 2.2.0 to 2.2.5 and 2.0.0 to 2.0.11 allowed for a crash triggered by packet injection or malformed capture files in the IMAP dissector.

The Impact of CVE-2017-7703

The vulnerability could result in a crash of Wireshark when specific packets were injected or when dealing with malformed capture files.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-7703

Wireshark's IMAP dissector vulnerability is detailed below:

Vulnerability Description

The issue was located in the IMAP dissector, specifically in the calculation of a line's end in epan/dissectors/packet-imap.c.

Affected Systems and Versions

Wireshark versions 2.2.0 to 2.2.5
Wireshark versions 2.0.0 to 2.0.11

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be exploited by injecting specific packets or using malformed capture files.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2017-7703 with these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Wireshark to a non-vulnerable version.
Avoid opening suspicious capture files.
Monitor vendor advisories for patches.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Wireshark and other software.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Train users on safe network practices.

Patching and Updates

Ensure you apply the latest security patches and updates for Wireshark to mitigate the CVE-2017-7703 vulnerability.