Quantum Secular Labs / Blog / Advisories

CVE-2009-1210: Wireshark: Remote code execution

CVE-2009-1210 has a CVSS v2 base score of 10.0 (the maximum on that scale) and affects Wireshark. Per its scoring, it can be exploited over the network, without authentication. The scored impact on confidentiality, integrity and availability is the highest available.

Vulnerability description

Format string vulnerability in the PROFINET/DCP (PN-DCP) dissector in Wireshark 1.0.6 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a PN-DCP packet with format string specifiers in the station name. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.

Severity breakdown

CVSS v2.0 10.0: AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Access vector: Network. Exploitable remotely over the network.
Access complexity: Low. No special conditions are required.
Authentication: None. No authentication is needed.
Confidentiality impact: Complete. Total information disclosure.
Integrity impact: Complete. Total loss of integrity.
Availability impact: Complete. Total shutdown of the component.

Underlying weakness

CWE-134: Use of Externally-Controlled Format String

The product uses a function that accepts a format string as an argument, but the format string originates from an external source.

Affected products

Wireshark: up to and including 1.0.5; 0.6; 0.7.9; 0.8.16; 0.8.19; 0.9.5; 0.9.7; 0.9.8; 0.9.10; 0.9.14; 0.10; 0.10.1