CVE-2021-4181 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A crash in the Sysdig Event dissector in Wireshark 3.6.0 and 3.4.0 to 3.4.10 has been identified, allowing denial of service via packet injection or crafted capture file.

Understanding CVE-2021-4181

This section provides detailed insights into the CVE-2021-4181 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2021-4181?

The CVE-2021-4181 vulnerability refers to a crash in the Sysdig Event dissector in Wireshark versions 3.6.0 and 3.4.0 to 3.4.10, enabling a denial of service attack through packet injection or a manipulated capture file.

The Impact of CVE-2021-4181

The vulnerability allows threat actors to conduct denial of service attacks, potentially disrupting network operations and causing system unavailability.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-4181

This section outlines the technical aspects of the CVE-2021-4181 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw enables attackers to crash Wireshark instances, leading to service denial through specific malicious packets or crafted files.

Affected Systems and Versions

Wireshark versions 3.6.0 and 3.4.0 to 3.4.10 are impacted by this vulnerability, potentially affecting systems with these software versions.

Exploitation Mechanism

Threat actors can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious packets or utilizing manipulated capture files to trigger crashes within Wireshark.

Mitigation and Prevention

Discover the steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of the CVE-2021-4181 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update Wireshark to a patched version to eliminate the vulnerability's exploitability and enhance system security.

Long-Term Security Practices

Maintain regular software updates and security patches to prevent potential exploitation of known vulnerabilities in Wireshark.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and promptly apply recommended patches and updates to safeguard your systems against CVE-2021-4181.