CVE-2021-39924 is a high-severity vulnerability present in the Bluetooth DHT dissector of Wireshark, specifically affecting versions 3.4.0 to 3.4.9 and 3.2.0 to 3.2.17. This vulnerability allows denial of service (DoS) attacks through packet injection or by utilizing a crafted capture file. The potential impact on organizations is significant, as the availability of the service can be compromised without any need for user interaction.
With a CVSS score of 7.5, this vulnerability is classified as high severity. The attack vector is network-based with low attack complexity, implying that an attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely with minimal effort. Organizations utilizing affected versions of Wireshark should prioritize remediation efforts to mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability.
Currently, there are no known public exploits, but given the nature of the vulnerability, it is crucial for organizations to remain vigilant. The urgency for addressing this vulnerability is high, and timely patching is essential to prevent potential service disruptions.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to safeguard their systems against potential denial of service attacks.
Vulnerability Details
This vulnerability allows denial of service due to a large loop in the Bluetooth DHT dissector in Wireshark versions 3.4.0 to 3.4.9 and 3.2.0 to 3.2.17. The CVSS score is 7.5, indicating high severity, as it can lead to significant disruption in service availability.
The affected vendor is Wireshark, and the vulnerability was published on November 19, 2021. The Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) classification for this vulnerability is CWE-834.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2021-39924 stems from the improper handling of certain Bluetooth packets, leading to a large loop in the processing logic. This results in excessive resource consumption, causing the application to become unresponsive.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, which means an attacker can exploit the flaw remotely without requiring physical access to the vulnerable system. The attack complexity is low, as it does not necessitate any special conditions or user interaction.
The availability impact is categorized as high, meaning that successful exploitation can render the service unavailable. The confidentiality and integrity impacts are negligible in this case.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world deployment risk associated with this vulnerability is significant, as organizations relying on Wireshark for network analysis could face disruptions in their operations due to service unavailability. The blast radius potential is broad, impacting any network that utilizes the affected versions of Wireshark.
Given the CVSS score of 7.5, organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle. Failure to do so could lead to severe operational issues, particularly in environments where Wireshark is critical for monitoring and analysis.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions of Wireshark are 3.4.0 to 3.4.9 and 3.2.0 to 3.2.17. Organizations using these versions should take immediate action to apply patches.
Mitigation & Remediation
Patching Wireshark to the latest version is essential for remediation. Organizations should upgrade to versions later than 3.4.9 and 3.2.17 to eliminate exposure to this vulnerability. If immediate patching is not possible, organizations can implement network controls to limit exposure to untrusted networks.
Monitoring for unusual traffic patterns associated with Bluetooth packets may also help in early detection of potential attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
Detection Guidance
To detect potential exploitation attempts, organizations should monitor logs for unusual Bluetooth-related traffic and analyze system performance indicators for signs of excessive resource consumption.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2021-39924 highlights the importance of continuous monitoring and patch management in maintaining security posture. As vulnerabilities in widely used applications like Wireshark emerge, organizations must adapt their security strategies accordingly.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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