CVE-2021-4190 : What You Need to Know

A detailed analysis of CVE-2021-4190, a vulnerability that allows denial of service via packet injection or crafted capture file in Wireshark 3.6.0.

Understanding CVE-2021-4190

This section provides an overview of the CVE-2021-4190 vulnerability affecting Wireshark 3.6.0.

What is CVE-2021-4190?

The vulnerability CVE-2021-4190 involves a large loop in the Kafka dissector in Wireshark 3.6.0, enabling denial of service through packet injection or a specially crafted capture file.

The Impact of CVE-2021-4190

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as HIGH, with a CVSS base score of 7.5. It allows attackers to disrupt the availability of the Wireshark application by exploiting the issue.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-4190

In this section, we delve into the technical aspects of CVE-2021-4190, including the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from a large loop in the Kafka dissector functionality of Wireshark 3.6.0, leading to a denial of service condition.

Affected Systems and Versions

Wireshark 3.6.0 is the specific version affected by CVE-2021-4190, making systems with this version vulnerable to exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can trigger the vulnerability by injecting malicious packets or supplying a specially crafted capture file to the Wireshark application, causing a denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines the steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2021-4190, ensuring system security and resilience against such vulnerabilities.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update Wireshark to a non-vulnerable version, apply official patches, and avoid opening untrusted capture files to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing network segmentation, access controls, and regular security assessments can enhance the overall security posture and reduce the likelihood of successful attacks targeting CVE-2021-4190.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates from Wireshark Foundation and promptly apply patches to address known vulnerabilities and ensure the security of the Wireshark application.