Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2026-5402 is a high-severity Wireshark flaw in the TLS protocol dissector. A crafted TLS input can crash Wireshark and may allow code execution. The main business risk is analyst workstation compromise or disruption when inspecting malicious network traffic or captures.
Executive priority
Treat this as a near-term workstation risk for teams that analyze network evidence. It is not KEV-listed in the provided bundle, but the code execution possibility and security-tool context justify prompt patch validation.
Technical view
The CVE describes a heap-based buffer overflow, CWE-122, affecting Wireshark 4.6.0 through 4.6.4 in the TLS dissector. CVSS 3.1 is 8.8 with network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, and required user interaction. Impacts are rated high for confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on systems running Wireshark 4.6.0 through 4.6.4, especially security analyst, SOC, malware analysis, support, and network engineering workstations that inspect TLS traffic or packet captures.
Exploitation context
The bundle marks CISA KEV as false and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates exploitation needs user interaction, but not privileges. Public details support denial of service and possible code execution, without enough evidence here to describe real-world exploitation.
Researcher notes
The source bundle names only Wireshark and the TLS dissector, with affected versions stated as 4.6.0 through 4.6.4. It does not provide exploit indicators, proof-of-concept status, or a fixed version. Avoid broad product assumptions beyond Wireshark packaging guidance.
Mitigation direction
- Identify Wireshark 4.6.0 through 4.6.4 installations.
- Apply the Wireshark vendor fix or follow WNPA-SEC-2026-14 guidance.
- Limit use of vulnerable Wireshark versions on untrusted captures.
- Prioritize analyst and SOC workstations for remediation.
- Check Red Hat guidance for packaged Wireshark exposure.
Validation and detection
- Inventory installed Wireshark versions across endpoints and jump hosts.
- Confirm whether any host runs Wireshark 4.6.0 through 4.6.4.
- Review vendor advisory WNPA-SEC-2026-14 for fixed-version status.
- Check Red Hat CVE and VEX entries for affected package status.
- Verify remediation by recording the upgraded Wireshark version.
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.
CWE-122: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2026-5402 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
- 8.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
2 official scoresWe 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:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.85.9GitLabCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.85.9redhat-SADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- ADP timelineredhat-SADP
Made public.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- ADP timelineredhat-SADP
Reported to Red Hat.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
- 2026-04-30T07:02:36.095Z: Reported to Red Hat.
- 2026-04-30T05:39:14.217Z: Made public.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.wireshark.org/security/wnpa-sec-2026-14.htmlCVE reference, GitLab
- GitLab Issue #21090CVE reference, GitLab · issue-tracking, permissions-required
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-5402CVE reference, redhat-SADP · vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT
- RHBZ#2464038CVE reference, redhat-SADP · issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT
- https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-5402.jsonCVE reference, redhat-SADP · x_sadp-csaf-vex
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.
Heap-based Buffer Overflow
Heap-based Buffer Overflow represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.