CVE-2017-7701 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Wireshark versions 2.2.0 to 2.2.5 and 2.0.0 to 2.0.11 were affected by a BGP dissector issue that caused an infinite loop. Learn how this vulnerability was addressed.

Understanding CVE-2017-7701

What is CVE-2017-7701?

In Wireshark versions 2.2.0 to 2.2.5 and 2.0.0 to 2.0.11, a vulnerability in the BGP dissector could lead to an infinite loop due to packet injection or malformed capture files.

The Impact of CVE-2017-7701

The issue caused the BGP dissector to get stuck in a never-ending loop, affecting the functionality of Wireshark in the specified versions.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-7701

Vulnerability Description

Developers resolved the problem by making adjustments in the epan/dissectors/packet-bgp.c file, utilizing an alternative type of integer data to prevent the infinite loop.

Affected Systems and Versions

Wireshark versions 2.2.0 to 2.2.5
Wireshark versions 2.0.0 to 2.0.11

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be triggered by packet injection or a corrupted capture file, leading to the BGP dissector getting stuck in a loop.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Wireshark to the latest version to ensure the vulnerability is patched.
Avoid opening suspicious capture files from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to protect against known vulnerabilities.
Implement network monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security updates and patches provided by Wireshark to address vulnerabilities like CVE-2017-7701.