CVE-2021-22207 represents a medium-severity vulnerability in Wireshark, a widely-used network protocol analyzer. This vulnerability allows excessive memory consumption in the MS-WSP dissector for versions 3.4.0 to 3.4.4 and 3.2.0 to 3.2.12. Attackers may exploit this vulnerability through packet injection or crafted capture files, resulting in a denial of service (DoS). The urgency for organizations to address this issue is underscored by its potential impact on availability.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 5.5, indicating a medium severity level. This score reflects the potential for significant disruption to service if exploited, emphasizing the need for timely remediation. The vulnerability was published on April 23, 2021, and has since been modified, suggesting ongoing developments or additional insights.
Organizations utilizing Wireshark in environments that process potentially malicious packets should prioritize patching affected versions to mitigate the risk of exploitation. The absence of known exploits in the wild, as indicated by the current CVE intelligence data, provides a brief window for organizations to implement necessary updates before potential exploits emerge.
Overall, organizations must remain vigilant in monitoring their software environments for vulnerabilities such as CVE-2021-22207, ensuring that their defenses are up-to-date to prevent service disruptions.
Vulnerability Details
The official description of CVE-2021-22207 states that excessive memory consumption in the MS-WSP dissector in Wireshark versions 3.4.0 to 3.4.4 and 3.2.0 to 3.2.12 allows denial of service via packet injection or crafted capture file. The vulnerability falls under the CWE classification of CWE-770.
The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, with a vector string of CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. This indicates a local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, and no user interaction needed, with a high impact on availability.
Affected products include Wireshark, Fedora, ZFS Storage Appliance Kit, and Debian Linux, with the vulnerability affecting specific versions as detailed in the configuration information.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2021-22207 stems from inadequate handling of certain packets within the MS-WSP dissector, which can lead to excessive memory usage. The attack vector is local, requiring an attacker to have access to send crafted packets to the application. This vulnerability has low attack complexity, allowing an attacker to exploit it without sophisticated techniques.
Privileges required for exploitation are low, meaning that an attacker can execute the attack with minimal access rights. User interaction is not required to trigger the vulnerability, making it easier for attackers to exploit without needing any action from the target user.
The vulnerability's impact is primarily on availability, as the excessive memory consumption can lead to a service outage. There is no confidentiality or integrity impact associated with this vulnerability, which may limit the overall damage but still poses a significant risk to the availability of services relying on affected versions.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes potential service disruptions that can arise from a denial of service attack exploiting this vulnerability. Given that Wireshark is often used in critical network analysis and monitoring, the impact of such disruptions can be significant, affecting operational capabilities.
The blast radius for this vulnerability extends to any organization that utilizes Wireshark in their network environments, especially those processing untrusted packets. Organizations should assess their deployment of Wireshark and the potential exposure to this vulnerability.
The urgency assessment based on the CVSS score suggests organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle. While not the highest severity, the potential for service disruption necessitates timely remediation.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The following versions of Wireshark are affected by this vulnerability: 3.4.0 to 3.4.4 and 3.2.0 to 3.2.12. Additionally, this issue impacts specific versions of Debian Linux (9.0, 10.0, and 11.0), Fedora (33 and 34), and Oracle's ZFS Storage Appliance Kit (8.8). Organizations using these versions should apply the appropriate patches.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching Wireshark to the latest versions that address this vulnerability. For Wireshark, upgrading to versions beyond 3.4.4 or 3.2.12 is recommended. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing configuration hardening practices to minimize exposure to potential attacks.
For organizations unable to immediately patch, monitoring network traffic for unusual patterns and implementing network controls can mitigate some risk. Regular security assessments, including penetration testing, can help identify and rectify vulnerabilities in the network.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for indicators of potential exploitation of this vulnerability, including abnormal spikes in memory usage or crashes of the Wireshark application. Behavioral anomalies during packet processing should also be tracked, as they may indicate an attempt to exploit the vulnerability.
Network signatures that correspond to known patterns of packet injection should be established to enhance detection capabilities. It is crucial to monitor systems for any unauthorized changes that might arise from exploitation attempts.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2021-22207 lies in its representation of the ongoing challenges in software security, particularly in network analysis tools. This vulnerability illustrates the importance of rigorous testing and validation in the development lifecycle, especially for applications handling complex data packets.
The pattern of excessive resource consumption vulnerabilities continues to be a trend, emphasizing the need for developers to prioritize resource management in their applications. Security teams should take this opportunity to reassess their security practices and ensure that vulnerabilities are addressed promptly.
Strategic defensive takeaways include the importance of implementing a robust vulnerability management program. Organizations should remain proactive in addressing vulnerabilities such as CVE-2021-22207 to reduce their attack surface and enhance overall security posture. For further insights, organizations can explore resources on developing a vulnerability management program that aligns with industry best practices.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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