tcpdump: Integer overflow

1. Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

Advisory Reference	GLSA 200707-14 / tcpdump
Release Date	July 28, 2007
Latest Revision	July 28, 2007: 01
Impact	high
Exploitable	remote

Package	Vulnerable versions	Unaffected versions	Architecture(s)
net-analyzer/tcpdump	< 3.9.5-r3	>= 3.9.5-r3	All supported architectures

Related bugreports: #184815

Synopsis

A vulnerability has been discovered in tcpdump, allowing for the execution of arbitrary code, possibly with root privileges.

2. Impact Information

Background

tcpdump is a tool for capturing and inspecting network traffic.

Description

mu-b from Digital Labs discovered that the return value of a snprintf() call is not properly checked before being used. This could lead to an integer overflow.

Impact

A remote attacker could send specially crafted BGP packets on a network being monitored with tcpdump, possibly resulting in the execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running tcpdump, which is usually root.

3. Resolution Information

Workaround

There is no known workaround at this time.

Resolution

All tcpdump users should upgrade to the latest version:

Code Listing 3.1: Resolution

# emerge --sync
# emerge --ask --oneshot --verbose ">=net-analyzer/tcpdump-3.9.5-r3"

4. References

CVE-2007-3798

Updated July 28, 2007

Summary: This is a Gentoo Linux Security Advisory

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