CVE-2021-4182 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A detailed guide on CVE-2021-4182, focusing on understanding the vulnerability, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

Understanding CVE-2021-4182

In December 2021, a vulnerability was discovered in Wireshark versions 3.6.0 and 3.4.0 to 3.4.10, allowing denial of service through packet injection or crafted capture files.

What is CVE-2021-4182?

The vulnerability, classified as an 'infinite loop' in Wireshark, crashes the RFC 7468 dissector, leading to a denial of service attack.

The Impact of CVE-2021-4182

Exploitation of this vulnerability can result in a complete denial of service, disrupting network monitoring and analysis processes.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-4182

The vulnerability stems from an infinite loop condition within the RFC 7468 dissector in Wireshark.

Vulnerability Description

A crash in the Wireshark dissector due to specially crafted packets or files can cause the software to become unresponsive.

Affected Systems and Versions

Wireshark versions 3.6.0 and 3.4.0 to 3.4.10 are impacted by this vulnerability, exposing systems using these versions to potential denial-of-service attacks.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by sending malicious packets or providing crafted capture files to trigger the infinite loop condition.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from CVE-2021-4182, immediate actions and long-term security practices are essential.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update Wireshark to a patched version, implement network monitoring best practices, and validate input data rigorously.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly applying software updates, conducting security audits, and enhancing network segmentation can help fortify defenses against potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Wireshark Foundation has released patches addressing CVE-2021-4182, and users should promptly install these updates to mitigate the risk of exploitation.