CVE-2023-0668 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE record, assigned by AHA, was published on June 7, 2023, after being reserved on February 3, 2023. It pertains to a vulnerability in Wireshark related to IEEE-C37.118 packet parsing.

Understanding CVE-2023-0668

This section delves into the details of CVE-2023-0668, outlining the nature of the vulnerability, its impact, technical aspects, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-0668?

The vulnerability in Wireshark is due to a failure in validating the length provided by an attacker-crafted IEEE-C37.118 packet. Specifically, Wireshark versions 4.0.5 and earlier are susceptible to a heap-based buffer overflow, potentially leading to code execution within the context of the Wireshark process.

The Impact of CVE-2023-0668

The impact of this vulnerability is categorized under CAPEC-540, which relates to overread buffers. Exploiting this vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on systems running the affected versions of Wireshark.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-0668

In this section, we'll explore the technical aspects of CVE-2023-0668, including vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from a lack of proper validation in handling the length parameter of IEEE-C37.118 packets, leading to a heap-based buffer overflow in Wireshark versions 4.0.5 and earlier.

Affected Systems and Versions

Wireshark versions up to 4.0.5 and 3.6.13 are impacted by this vulnerability. Versions 4.0.6 and 3.6.14 are not affected and are considered safe from this issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious IEEE-C37.118 packet with a specific length value to trigger the buffer overflow in Wireshark, potentially gaining unauthorized code execution capabilities.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from CVE-2023-0668, immediate steps should be taken along with the implementation of long-term security practices and timely application of patches and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations should consider updating Wireshark to versions beyond 4.0.5 and 3.6.13 to mitigate the risk posed by this vulnerability.
Monitoring network traffic for any anomalous activity that could indicate exploitation of this issue is advisable.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing network segmentation, access controls, and regular security audits can help bolster the overall security posture and prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitoring vendor advisories and promptly applying security patches is crucial to addressing known vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-0668. Stay informed about updates from Wireshark and related distributions to ensure a secure network environment.