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CVE Record

CVE-2018-9271: In Wireshark 2.4.0 to 2.4.5 and 2.2.0 to 2.2.13, epan/dissectors/packet-multipart.c has a memory leak.

In Wireshark 2.4.0 to 2.4.5 and 2.2.0 to 2.2.13, epan/dissectors/packet-multipart.c has a memory leak.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2018-9271 is a memory leak in Wireshark’s MIME multipart packet dissector. An affected Wireshark version could consume excessive memory while analyzing relevant traffic or capture data, potentially disrupting analysts’ workstations. The sources do not provide CVSS scoring or evidence of active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted operational stability issue for security tooling. Prioritize patching affected analyst and automation systems, especially where staff handle untrusted packet captures. Business urgency is moderate unless affected Wireshark versions remain widely deployed.

Technical view

Wireshark 2.4.0 through 2.4.5 and 2.2.0 through 2.2.13 contain a memory leak in epan/dissectors/packet-multipart.c. The issue is documented by Wireshark advisory WNPA-SEC-2018-24 and a referenced upstream commit. Available evidence supports denial-of-service risk, not code execution.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely where security teams, support teams, or automated analysis systems still run affected Wireshark versions and process multipart network traffic or untrusted capture files.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing, active exploitation, public exploit use, or weaponized guidance. Practical risk depends on affected Wireshark use and whether untrusted captures or relevant traffic are analyzed.

Researcher notes

The record identifies a memory leak in packet-multipart.c but provides no CVSS, CWE, or exploit details in the supplied bundle. Analysis should focus on version exposure, advisory-confirmed remediation, and denial-of-service impact during packet dissection.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade affected Wireshark installations according to Wireshark advisory WNPA-SEC-2018-24.
  • Remove or isolate Wireshark 2.4.0-2.4.5 and 2.2.0-2.2.13 from production workflows.
  • Avoid opening untrusted capture files with affected Wireshark versions.
  • Review the upstream commit and advisory before accepting any backported fix.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory installed Wireshark versions on analyst workstations and packet-analysis systems.
  • Confirm no systems run Wireshark 2.4.0-2.4.5 or 2.2.0-2.2.13.
  • Check whether automated tooling invokes affected Wireshark dissectors on uploaded captures.
  • Verify remediation against Wireshark’s advisory and the referenced source commit.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

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

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

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CVE-2018-9271 mapping review

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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
4Source 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

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.