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CVE Record

CVE-2018-9261: In Wireshark 2.4.0 to 2.4.5 and 2.2.0 to 2.2.13, the NBAP dissector could crash with a large loop that ends...

In Wireshark 2.4.0 to 2.4.5 and 2.2.0 to 2.2.13, the NBAP dissector could crash with a large loop that ends with a heap-based buffer overflow. This was addressed in epan/dissectors/packet-nbap.c by prohibiting the self-linking of DCH-IDs.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2018-9261 affects older Wireshark releases. A malformed NBAP packet or capture can crash Wireshark while it is dissecting traffic, with the report describing a heap-based buffer overflow at the end of a large loop. This mainly threatens analysts and systems that inspect untrusted telecom-related captures.

Executive priority

Treat as a timely maintenance patch for packet-analysis environments, especially SOC and telecom analysis teams. Urgency rises where users routinely inspect third-party captures.

Technical view

Wireshark 2.4.0 through 2.4.5 and 2.2.0 through 2.2.13 are affected. The NBAP dissector in epan/dissectors/packet-nbap.c mishandled self-linking DCH-IDs, causing a large loop ending in a heap-based buffer overflow and crash. The cited fix prohibits self-linking of DCH-IDs.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on analyst workstations, packet-processing pipelines, or security tools running affected Wireshark versions and opening NBAP traffic or captures from untrusted sources.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. Public sources describe a crash condition in the NBAP dissector, not confirmed real-world exploitation or reliable code execution.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports a dissector crash with heap-based buffer overflow, but the bundle lacks CVSS, CWE, exploitability detail, and KEV evidence. Keep findings limited to affected Wireshark versions and the NBAP DCH-ID self-linking fix.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade affected Wireshark installations using Wireshark or operating-system vendor security updates.
  • Apply Debian DSA-4217 or DLA 1388-1 where Debian packages are used.
  • Avoid opening untrusted NBAP captures with affected Wireshark versions until patched.
  • Check Wireshark WNPA-SEC-2018-18 for vendor-specific remediation guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Wireshark versions and flag 2.4.0-2.4.5 and 2.2.0-2.2.13.
  • Confirm patched packages were installed from Wireshark or OS vendor channels.
  • Review packet-analysis workflows for automated processing of untrusted captures.
  • Verify exposure assumptions against whether NBAP dissector use is enabled or relevant.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
7

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
6Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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