CVE-2020-26418 : Security Advisory and Response

Wireshark 3.4.0 and 3.2.0 to 3.2.8 are affected by a memory leak in the Kafka protocol dissector, potentially leading to denial of service attacks.

Understanding CVE-2020-26418

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Wireshark that could be exploited for denial of service attacks.

What is CVE-2020-26418?

The vulnerability in Wireshark versions 3.4.0 and 3.2.0 to 3.2.8 allows attackers to trigger a denial of service by injecting malicious packets or using crafted capture files.

The Impact of CVE-2020-26418

The impact of this CVE is rated as low severity, with a CVSS base score of 3.1. Although the availability impact is low, the attack complexity is high, requiring user interaction.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-26418

Wireshark's vulnerability details and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

A memory leak in the Kafka protocol dissector in Wireshark versions 3.4.0 and 3.2.0 to 3.2.8 can be exploited for denial of service attacks through packet injection or crafted capture files.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Wireshark
Vendor: The Wireshark Foundation
Affected Versions: 3.4.0, >=3.2.0 to <3.2.9

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over a network without requiring privileges, making it a potential target for attackers.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2020-26418.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Wireshark to a non-vulnerable version.
Avoid opening suspicious capture files or packets.
Monitor network traffic for any unusual activity.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Wireshark and other software to the latest versions.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Wireshark promptly to address the vulnerability.