CVE-2017-13040

The MPTCP parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 has a buffer over-read in print-mptcp.c, several functions

Critical · published September 14, 2017

CVSS v3.1
9.8
EPSS
5%
Percentile
91.6
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

🚨 A sneaky buffer over-read lurking in tcpdump's MPTCP parser could expose sensitive data and wreak havoc! 🔥 Think of tcpdump as a meticulous librarian who sometimes reads too far into the margins of books, accidentally spilling the secrets of the texts instead of just cataloguing them. This buffer over-read means it might accidentally share more than it should, leading to potential leaks of sensitive information. If exploited, an attacker could extract private data unintentionally read from memory, turning the tcpdump tool into an inadvertent data leak machine. This could lead to absolutely devastating breaches of confidentiality, leaving sensitive information vulnerable to anyone monitoring traffic. 🚨

Put simply

Think of tcpdump as a meticulous librarian who sometimes reads too far into the margins of books, accidentally spilling the secrets of the texts instead of just cataloguing them. This buffer over-read means it might accidentally share more than it should, leading to potential leaks of sensitive information. The buffer over-read in tcpdump's MPTCP parser allows attackers to read beyond allocated memory bounds, potentially exposing sensitive data during packet analysis. This flaw exists in versions before 4.9.2, where certain functions fail to properly validate input sizes during parsing operations.

What to do

If exploited, an attacker could extract private data unintentionally read from memory, turning the tcpdump tool into an inadvertent data leak machine. This could lead to absolutely devastating breaches of confidentiality, leaving sensitive information vulnerable to anyone monitoring traffic. 🚨 To mitigate this vulnerability, update tcpdump to version 4.9.2 or later immediately. It’s crucial to ensure all parsing functions are patched and validated against malicious or overly large inputs. Regularly review and audit your network monitoring tools to maintain a secure environment. 🛡️ You’ve got this! Follow these steps, and you’ll keep your data tightly secured in no time! 💪✨

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
0.04598 · 91.6th percentile
Published
2017-09-14T06:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 14 SEP 06:00Z
    The MPTCP parser in tcpdump before 4.9.2 has a buffer over-read in print-mptcp.c, several functions
    cvelistv5