Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-4184 is a denial-of-service flaw in Wireshark’s BitTorrent DHT dissector. A malicious packet or capture file can make affected Wireshark versions loop indefinitely, consuming availability for analysts or automated packet-processing workflows. It does not indicate data theft or code execution in the supplied sources.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation where Wireshark supports security operations or automated monitoring. The business risk is operational disruption rather than breach of confidentiality. Because exploitation is not confirmed in the supplied sources, this is urgent for exposed packet-analysis systems but not a broad emergency.
Technical view
The flaw is an infinite loop in the BitTorrent DHT protocol dissector affecting Wireshark 3.6.0 and 3.4.x versions listed in the source bundle. The CVSS 3.1 vector is network-reachable, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, with availability impact only.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on analyst workstations, SOC tooling, packet capture pipelines, or servers running Wireshark or tshark against untrusted traffic or capture files. Systems not using Wireshark packet dissection are not directly exposed based on the supplied evidence.
Exploitation context
The source bundle describes denial of service via packet injection or crafted capture file. CISA KEV is false, and the provided sources do not establish active exploitation. Treat exploitation status as unconfirmed unless newer vendor or threat-intelligence evidence says otherwise.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports an availability-only infinite loop in the BitTorrent DHT dissector. The supplied data does not include CWE mapping, exploit publication, or detailed fixed-version text. Validate exact package remediation against the referenced Wireshark and distribution advisories before closing findings.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade affected Wireshark installations using Wireshark or operating-system vendor guidance.
- Prioritize systems processing untrusted packets or capture files automatically.
- Restrict automated capture processing to trusted inputs until patched.
- Use vendor package advisories for Fedora, Debian, Gentoo, and Oracle environments.
- Document any compensating controls for packet-analysis workflows that cannot be updated quickly.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Wireshark and tshark versions across analyst workstations and servers.
- Flag Wireshark 3.6.0 and affected 3.4.x builds from the source bundle.
- Identify workflows that ingest untrusted capture files or live network traffic.
- Confirm patched package versions against Wireshark and distribution advisories.
- Review monitoring for repeated crashes, hangs, or stalled packet-analysis jobs.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2021-4184 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
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.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H3.93.6Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.5HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.wireshark.org/security/wnpa-sec-2021-18.htmlCVE reference
- https://gitlab.com/wireshark/wireshark/-/issues/17754CVE reference
- https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/cves/-/blob/master/2021/CVE-2021-4184.jsonCVE reference
- FEDORA-2022-1daf93c51dCVE reference · vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2022-30411cb3c4CVE reference · vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20220331 [SECURITY] [DLA 2967-1] wireshark security updateCVE reference · mailing-list
- https://www.oracle.com/security-alerts/cpuapr2022.htmlCVE reference
- GLSA-202210-04CVE reference · vendor-advisory
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/09/msg00049.htmlCVE reference
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.