CVE-2023-0412 Overview
CVE-2023-0412 is a Denial of Service vulnerability affecting the TIPC (Transparent Inter-Process Communication) protocol dissector in Wireshark. The vulnerability allows attackers to crash Wireshark through packet injection on the network or by tricking users into opening specially crafted capture files. This issue impacts Wireshark versions 4.0.0 to 4.0.2 and 3.6.0 to 3.6.10, making it a significant concern for network administrators and security professionals who rely on Wireshark for packet analysis.
Critical Impact
Attackers can cause Wireshark to crash, disrupting network analysis operations and potentially enabling further attacks while monitoring is down.
Affected Products
- Wireshark 4.0.0 to 4.0.2
- Wireshark 3.6.0 to 3.6.10
- Debian Linux 10.0
Discovery Timeline
- 2023-01-26 - CVE-2023-0412 published to NVD
- 2025-11-03 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2023-0412
Vulnerability Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-404 (Improper Resource Shutdown or Release), indicating that the TIPC dissector fails to properly manage resources during packet processing. The flaw exists in how Wireshark handles TIPC protocol packets, where malformed or specially crafted packets can trigger a crash condition. When the dissector encounters unexpected input, it fails to properly release allocated resources before terminating, leading to an application crash.
The attack can be conducted remotely over the network without requiring authentication. However, user interaction is required as the victim must either be actively capturing traffic containing the malicious packets or must open a crafted capture file. The vulnerability primarily impacts availability, causing the application to crash and potentially leading to information disclosure through memory access issues.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2023-0412 lies in improper resource shutdown or release (CWE-404) within the TIPC dissector component. The dissector fails to properly validate and handle certain packet structures, leading to resource management failures. When processing malformed TIPC packets, the dissector does not adequately check boundary conditions or properly clean up resources, resulting in a crash condition that terminates the Wireshark process.
Attack Vector
The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based and can be exploited through two primary methods:
Packet Injection: An attacker on the same network segment can inject crafted TIPC packets that will be captured by Wireshark during live packet analysis, causing the application to crash.
Crafted Capture File: An attacker can create a malicious PCAP or PCAPNG file containing the exploit payload and distribute it to victims through social engineering, file sharing, or other means.
The vulnerability manifests when the TIPC dissector processes specially crafted packets that trigger improper resource handling. When Wireshark attempts to parse these malformed packets, the dissector encounters an error condition that is not properly handled, leading to resource exhaustion or improper cleanup that crashes the application. For detailed technical information, refer to the Wireshark Issue #18770 and the Wireshark Security Notice.
Detection Methods for CVE-2023-0412
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected Wireshark crashes or terminations during packet capture sessions
- Crash dump files indicating TIPC dissector failures
- Suspicious PCAP files received from untrusted sources containing TIPC protocol traffic
- Network traffic containing malformed TIPC packets targeting systems running Wireshark
Detection Strategies
- Monitor for Wireshark process crashes and collect crash reports for analysis
- Implement file integrity monitoring on capture file directories to detect suspicious file additions
- Deploy network intrusion detection rules to identify malformed TIPC protocol packets
- Review system logs for repeated Wireshark crash events that may indicate active exploitation
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable application crash logging and centralize crash reports for security team review
- Monitor network segments for unexpected TIPC protocol traffic, especially in environments where TIPC is not normally used
- Implement endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to track Wireshark process behavior
- Set up alerts for multiple consecutive Wireshark crashes which may indicate an ongoing attack
How to Mitigate CVE-2023-0412
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Wireshark to version 4.0.3 or later for the 4.x branch
- Update Wireshark to version 3.6.11 or later for the 3.6.x branch
- Avoid opening capture files from untrusted or unknown sources
- Disable the TIPC dissector if not required using the Analyze > Enabled Protocols menu
- Apply relevant Debian security updates for affected systems
Patch Information
Wireshark has released patched versions addressing this vulnerability. Users should upgrade to Wireshark 4.0.3 or later for the 4.0.x branch, or 3.6.11 or later for the 3.6.x branch. Debian users should apply the security updates as referenced in the Debian LTS Announcement. The official security advisory is available at the Wireshark Security Notice.
Workarounds
- Disable the TIPC protocol dissector through the Wireshark interface (Analyze > Enabled Protocols, uncheck TIPC)
- Use command-line option to disable the dissector: --disable-protocol tipc
- Restrict network capture to trusted network segments only
- Implement file validation procedures before opening capture files from external sources
# Configuration example
# Disable TIPC dissector via command line when starting Wireshark
wireshark --disable-protocol tipc
# Or for TShark command-line captures
tshark --disable-protocol tipc -i eth0
# Verify TIPC dissector is disabled
tshark -G protocols | grep -i tipc
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
