CVE-2020-26421 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Wireshark 3.4.0 and 3.2.0 to 3.2.8 are affected by a vulnerability that allows denial of service through packet injection or crafted capture files.

Understanding CVE-2020-26421

This CVE involves a crash in the USB HID protocol dissector and potentially other dissectors in Wireshark, leading to a denial of service attack.

What is CVE-2020-26421?

The vulnerability in Wireshark versions 3.4.0 and 3.2.0 to 3.2.8 allows attackers to disrupt services by injecting malicious packets or using specially crafted capture files.

The Impact of CVE-2020-26421

CVSS Base Score: 4.2 (Medium Severity)
Attack Vector: Network
Attack Complexity: High
User Interaction: Required
Confidentiality Impact: Low
Integrity Impact: None
Availability Impact: Low

Technical Details of CVE-2020-26421

Wireshark's vulnerability is described below:

Vulnerability Description

The issue involves a crash in the USB HID protocol dissector and potentially other dissectors.

Affected Systems and Versions

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

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious packets or using crafted capture files to cause a denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2020-26421, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Wireshark to a non-vulnerable version.
Avoid opening suspicious capture files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Wireshark and other software to patch vulnerabilities.
Implement network monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns.

Patching and Updates

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