CVE-2017-12895

The ICMP parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 has a buffer over-read in print-icmp.c:icmp_print()

Critical · published September 14, 2017

CVSS v3.1
9.8
EPSS
2%
Percentile
83.7
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

🚨 A sneaky buffer over-read in tcpdump can expose sensitive information without breaking a sweat! 🔥 Think of tcpdump's ICMP parser as a restaurant that serves dishes without checking if the order is complete — it might serve you items from previous orders that should have been thrown out! An attacker could exploit this flaw to reveal sensitive data stored in memory, potentially leaking important information. This could lead to unauthorized knowledge about network activity, making it a critical risk for anyone relying on tcpdump for monitoring. The fallout could be absolutely devastating for your network security!

Put simply

Think of tcpdump's ICMP parser as a restaurant that serves dishes without checking if the order is complete — it might serve you items from previous orders that should have been thrown out! In tcpdump versions prior to 4.9.2, the ICMP parser permits a buffer over-read, which can lead to the exposure of uninitialized memory content, increasing risks of information leakage.

What to do

An attacker could exploit this flaw to reveal sensitive data stored in memory, potentially leaking important information. This could lead to unauthorized knowledge about network activity, making it a critical risk for anyone relying on tcpdump for monitoring. The fallout could be absolutely devastating for your network security! To protect yourself, upgrade tcpdump to version 4.9.2 or later immediately. Regularly audit your systems to ensure no outdated versions linger around, and always keep software updated to the latest stable releases. 🛡️ You've got this! With these steps, you're well on your way to bolstering your network security! 💪✨

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
9.8 · CRITICAL
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.02389 · 83.7th percentile
Published
2017-09-14T06:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 14 SEP 06:00Z
    The ICMP parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 has a buffer over-read in print-icmp.c:icmp_print()
    cvelistv5