CVE-2024-0208 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Wireshark versions 4.2.0, 4.0.0 to 4.0.11, and 3.6.0 to 3.6.19. This vulnerability allows denial of service through packet injection or crafted capture files. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 7.8, indicating a significant risk to systems utilizing these versions of Wireshark. Organizations using affected versions should act swiftly to address this issue.
Risk to organizations includes potential disruption of network analysis capabilities, leading to operational inefficiencies. As the vulnerability allows for denial of service, it is crucial for organizations to understand the impact this could have on their network operations and incident response processes. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to avoid exploitation.
Currently, there are no known exploits in the wild for this vulnerability, but the potential for denial of service through crafted packets poses a serious threat. The urgency for defenders is high due to the availability of the vulnerability in widely used software. Immediate patching is essential to mitigate risks.
Organizations should assess their deployments of Wireshark and ensure they are using the latest patched version to safeguard against this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Details
The CVE-2024-0208 vulnerability is classified as a denial of service issue, specifically related to the GVCP dissector in Wireshark. When exploited, it can cause application crashes, leading to service interruptions. The official CVE description specifies that the crash occurs when processing crafted packets, indicating a weakness in input validation.
The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.8, classifying it as high severity. The CVSS vector indicates that the attack can be executed locally, with low complexity and no privileges required. User interaction is necessary, but the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is rated as high. This severity level underscores the importance of prompt remediation.
Affected versions include Wireshark versions 4.2.0, 4.0.0 through 4.0.11, and 3.6.0 through 3.6.19. The vulnerability was published on January 3, 2024, and is categorized under CWE-230.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2024-0208 lies in the handling of specific crafted packets by the GVCP dissector. When these packets are processed, the application encounters a condition that leads to a crash, effectively causing denial of service. The attack vector is local, thus requiring the attacker to have access to the machine running Wireshark.
The attack complexity is low, meaning that relatively simple techniques can be used to trigger the vulnerability. No special privileges are required to perform the attack, which means that even a non-privileged user could initiate the conditions for exploitation. User interaction is required, as the crafted packet must be sent to Wireshark to cause the crash.
The impacts of this vulnerability are significant, with high potential for confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts. Organizations utilizing Wireshark should ensure robust monitoring to detect any abnormal behaviors that may arise from the exploitation of this vulnerability.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Real-world deployment risks associated with CVE-2024-0208 include service disruptions and potential data loss during the analysis process. The blast radius is expanded due to the common usage of Wireshark, making it critical for organizations to assess their exposure. If exploited, the denial of service could prevent organizations from effectively analyzing network traffic, leading to delays in incident response and potential security gaps.
The urgency assessment is high due to the CVSS score and the potential impacts on operational workflows. Organizations must act quickly to implement the necessary patches to secure their systems and maintain operational integrity.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
This vulnerability affects Wireshark versions 4.2.0, as well as versions 4.0.0 through 4.0.11 and 3.6.0 through 3.6.19. Organizations should ensure they are using the latest patched versions to mitigate this vulnerability.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching Wireshark to the latest available version to remediate this vulnerability. For those unable to apply the patch immediately, consider implementing network controls to restrict access to Wireshark and monitor for any unusual behavior. Configuration hardening and regular security assessments can further enhance defenses against potential exploitation.
For ongoing security assurance, organizations can utilize continuous security testing to identify new vulnerabilities that may arise and ensure that existing configurations are secure.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for indications of anomalous behavior, particularly patterns that suggest crafted packets may have been processed by Wireshark. Behavioral anomalies in network traffic analysis should be investigated, and systems should be set up to alert on any crashes or unexpected shutdowns of the Wireshark application.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2024-0208 lies in the potential for exploitation of vulnerabilities in widely used analysis tools. This incident represents a pattern where even trusted software can be misused, necessitating constant vigilance from security teams. Organizations should learn from this vulnerability to strengthen their incident response plans and ensure they maintain robust security practices.
For further reading on vulnerability management, organizations may explore insights from the vulnerability management program design and consider how to implement best practices into their security framework.
Additionally, reviewing strategies for effective penetration testing can enhance the organization's ability to preemptively identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
Lastly, exploring the implications of red teaming versus penetration testing can provide additional context on how to enhance organizational defenses against advanced threats.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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