CVE-2020-25866 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2020-25866 affecting Wireshark versions 3.2.0 to 3.2.6 and 3.0.0 to 3.0.13. Understand the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps for this vulnerability.
Wireshark versions 3.2.0 to 3.2.6 and 3.0.0 to 3.0.13 are affected by a vulnerability in the BLIP protocol dissector, leading to a NULL pointer dereference. This issue has been resolved by implementing measures in the packet-blip.c file.
Understanding CVE-2020-25866
This CVE entry pertains to a specific vulnerability in Wireshark versions 3.2.0 to 3.2.6 and 3.0.0 to 3.0.13 related to the BLIP protocol dissector.
What is CVE-2020-25866?
Wireshark versions 3.2.0 to 3.2.6 and 3.0.0 to 3.0.13 are susceptible to a NULL pointer dereference due to incorrect buffer sizing for compressed messages within the BLIP protocol dissector.
The Impact of CVE-2020-25866
The vulnerability could be exploited to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition by crashing the Wireshark application or potentially executing arbitrary code on the affected system.
Technical Details of CVE-2020-25866
Wireshark's vulnerability in the BLIP protocol dissector has the following technical aspects:
Vulnerability Description
The issue arises from a buffer being sized for compressed messages instead of uncompressed ones, leading to a NULL pointer dereference.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Wireshark versions 3.2.0 to 3.2.6
- Wireshark versions 3.0.0 to 3.0.13
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious network packets that trigger the NULL pointer dereference, potentially leading to a DoS or arbitrary code execution.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2020-25866, consider the following mitigation strategies:
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Wireshark to the latest patched version.
- Avoid opening suspicious or untrusted network captures.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update Wireshark and other software to patch known vulnerabilities.
- Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Patching and Updates
Ensure timely installation of security updates and patches provided by Wireshark to mitigate the vulnerability effectively.