Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a Wireshark flaw where a crafted item processed by the SBC codec path can crash Wireshark and may allow code execution. The main business risk is to analyst workstations that open untrusted packet captures or traffic. There is no source evidence here of active exploitation.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for SOC, incident response, and engineering systems that process external captures. The issue is high severity because user interaction can still lead to crash or possible code execution on sensitive workstations.
Technical view
CVE-2026-5403 is a heap-based buffer overflow (CWE-122) in Wireshark 4.6.0-4.6.4 and 4.4.0-4.4.14. CVSS 3.1 is 7.8 with local attack vector, no privileges, and required user interaction. Reported impact is denial of service and possible code execution.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on desktops, investigation VMs, SOC workstations, and lab systems running the affected Wireshark branches, especially where users open packet captures or data from untrusted sources.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector requires local interaction by a user. The provided data says KEV is false and gives no cited evidence of exploitation in the wild. Treat exploitation status as unconfirmed, not actively exploited.
Researcher notes
The source bundle identifies affected Wireshark ranges and CWE-122 but does not include detailed root cause, proof-of-concept status, or confirmed fixed release numbers. Avoid assuming exploitability beyond the stated denial of service and possible code execution.
Mitigation direction
- Identify Wireshark 4.6.0-4.6.4 and 4.4.0-4.4.14 installations.
- Apply Wireshark Foundation guidance for fixed versions or mitigations.
- Avoid opening untrusted packet captures on vulnerable systems.
- Use isolated analysis environments for suspicious captures until remediated.
- Monitor vendor and OS distributor advisories for package status.
Validation and detection
- Check installed Wireshark versions on analyst and engineering endpoints.
- Confirm whether affected branches are present in software inventory.
- Review package advisories from Wireshark and relevant distributors.
- Verify updated systems no longer report affected versions.
- Document any systems that must rely on temporary operational controls.
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-2026-5403 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
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/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:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9GitLabCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9redhat-SADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/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
- 2026-05-01T00:00:55.928Z: Reported to Red Hat.
- 2026-04-30T23:04:03.523Z: Made public.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.wireshark.org/security/wnpa-sec-2026-16.htmlCVE reference, GitLab
- GitLab Issue #21103CVE reference, GitLab · issue-tracking, permissions-required
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-5403CVE reference, redhat-SADP · vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT
- RHBZ#2464271CVE reference, redhat-SADP · issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT
- https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-5403.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.