CVE-2020-13164 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Wireshark versions 3.2.0 to 3.2.3, 3.0.0 to 3.0.10, and 2.6.0 to 2.6.16 are affected by a vulnerability in the NFS dissector that could lead to a crash. The issue has been resolved by preventing excessive recursion.

Understanding CVE-2020-13164

Wireshark vulnerability impacting NFS dissector

What is CVE-2020-13164?

This CVE refers to a vulnerability in Wireshark versions 3.2.0 to 3.2.3, 3.0.0 to 3.0.10, and 2.6.0 to 2.6.16 that could cause the NFS dissector to crash due to excessive recursion.

The Impact of CVE-2020-13164

The vulnerability could lead to a crash in Wireshark when processing NFS packets.
Attackers could potentially exploit this issue to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-13164

Details of the vulnerability

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Wireshark's NFS dissector could result in a crash due to excessive recursion, particularly in scenarios involving a cycle in the directory graph on a filesystem.

Affected Systems and Versions

Wireshark versions 3.2.0 to 3.2.3
Wireshark versions 3.0.0 to 3.0.10
Wireshark versions 2.6.0 to 2.6.16

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious NFS packets to trigger the excessive recursion in the NFS dissector, leading to a crash.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting against CVE-2020-13164

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Wireshark to the latest version to apply the necessary patches.
Monitor vendor advisories for any specific guidance on mitigating this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to address known vulnerabilities.
Employ network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Apply the patches provided by Wireshark to address the vulnerability.