CVE-2018-7331 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Wireshark versions 2.4.0 to 2.4.4 and 2.2.0 to 2.2.12 were affected by an infinite loop issue in epan/dissectors/packet-ber.c, which was resolved by implementing length validation.

Understanding CVE-2018-7331

This CVE entry addresses a specific vulnerability in Wireshark versions 2.4.0 to 2.4.4 and 2.2.0 to 2.2.12.

What is CVE-2018-7331?

CVE-2018-7331 is a vulnerability in Wireshark versions 2.4.0 to 2.4.4 and 2.2.0 to 2.2.12 due to an infinite loop in epan/dissectors/packet-ber.c.

The Impact of CVE-2018-7331

The vulnerability could potentially lead to denial of service or other security issues by causing an infinite loop in the affected Wireshark versions.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-7331

This section provides more in-depth technical details about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The issue in epan/dissectors/packet-ber.c was caused by an infinite loop, which was mitigated by implementing length validation in Wireshark versions 2.4.0 to 2.4.4 and 2.2.0 to 2.2.12.

Affected Systems and Versions

Wireshark versions 2.4.0 to 2.4.4
Wireshark versions 2.2.0 to 2.2.12

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be exploited by crafting a malicious packet that triggers the infinite loop in the affected Wireshark versions.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-7331, follow these mitigation and prevention steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Wireshark to versions 2.4.5 or later for the 2.4.x branch, and versions 2.2.13 or later for the 2.2.x branch.
Avoid opening suspicious or untrusted capture files with affected versions.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Wireshark to the latest version to ensure all security patches are applied.
Practice secure network monitoring and analysis to detect any abnormal behavior.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates from Wireshark to promptly address any future vulnerabilities.