CVE-2023-2856 is a buffer over-read vulnerability classified under CWE-787, affecting the VMS TCPIPtrace file parser component in Wireshark versions 3.6.0 through 3.6.13 and 4.0.0 through 4.0.5. The flaw arises when Wireshark processes a specially crafted capture file, leading to reading beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This results in a crash of the Wireshark application, causing a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability does not allow remote code execution or privilege escalation but can disrupt network analysis activities by terminating the application unexpectedly. Exploitation requires a user to open a malicious capture file, meaning user interaction is necessary, and no elevated privileges are needed. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.3 (medium severity), reflecting limited confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, with low attack vector (local) and low complexity. No known public exploits or active exploitation campaigns have been reported to date. The vulnerability affects widely used Wireshark versions in enterprise and security environments, making it relevant for organizations relying on this tool for network traffic inspection and forensic analysis. The absence of a patch link in the provided data suggests users should verify vendor advisories for updates or apply mitigations such as avoiding untrusted capture files. This vulnerability highlights the importance of careful parsing of network capture data to prevent application crashes and potential information leakage.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2023-2856 is the potential denial of service of Wireshark during network traffic analysis, which could delay incident response and troubleshooting activities. While the vulnerability does not allow remote code execution or direct data compromise, the buffer over-read could theoretically expose small amounts of memory content, posing a minor confidentiality risk. Organizations in critical infrastructure, telecommunications, financial services, and government sectors that rely heavily on Wireshark for network monitoring and forensic investigations may experience operational disruptions. The denial of service could hinder timely detection of other security incidents or network faults, indirectly increasing risk exposure. Since exploitation requires user interaction and opening a crafted capture file, the risk is mitigated by user awareness and operational controls. However, targeted attacks involving social engineering or malicious insider actions could leverage this vulnerability to disrupt security operations. Overall, the impact is moderate but relevant for entities with high dependency on network analysis tools.

1. Upgrade Wireshark to the latest available versions beyond 3.6.13 and 4.0.5, specifically 3.6.14 or 4.0.6 and later, as these contain fixes for this vulnerability. 2. Implement strict policies to avoid opening capture files from untrusted or unknown sources. 3. Use sandboxing or isolated environments when analyzing suspicious capture files to contain potential crashes. 4. Educate network analysts and security teams about the risks of opening unverified capture files and encourage verification of file provenance. 5. Monitor Wireshark usage logs and system stability to detect unusual crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts. 6. Employ network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of critical analysis systems to potentially malicious files. 7. Stay informed through vendor advisories and security bulletins for any updates or patches related to this vulnerability. 8. Consider alternative network analysis tools temporarily if patching is delayed and risk is high.