CVE-2024-0209 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference) affecting the Wireshark network protocol analyzer, specifically in its IEEE 1609.2 dissector component. The flaw exists in Wireshark versions 3.6.0 through 3.6.19, 4.0.0 through 4.0.11, and 4.2.0. The vulnerability is triggered when Wireshark processes specially crafted packets or capture files containing malformed IEEE 1609.2 protocol data, leading to a NULL pointer dereference that causes the application to crash. This results in a denial of service condition, disrupting network traffic analysis and forensic activities. Exploitation requires the victim to open a malicious capture file or receive maliciously crafted packets, implying user interaction and local access. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability due to potential crash and possible memory corruption. No patches are linked yet, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. The vulnerability highlights the risks of processing untrusted network data and the importance of secure parsing in network analysis tools.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to network monitoring and incident response capabilities. Wireshark is widely used by security teams, network administrators, and forensic analysts across Europe to capture and analyze network traffic. A successful exploitation causing Wireshark to crash can interrupt these critical operations, delaying threat detection and response. This can lead to increased exposure to other cyber threats and operational downtime. Additionally, if Wireshark is used in automated or semi-automated environments, repeated crashes could degrade security posture. Although the vulnerability does not directly lead to remote code execution, the denial of service impact on availability and potential for disruption in sensitive environments is considerable. Organizations handling critical infrastructure, telecommunications, and government networks are particularly vulnerable to operational impacts.

1. Monitor Wireshark Foundation announcements and apply official patches immediately once released for versions 3.6.x, 4.0.x, and 4.2.0. 2. Until patches are available, avoid opening capture files from untrusted or unknown sources. 3. Restrict network capture permissions to trusted personnel and environments to reduce exposure to crafted packets. 4. Employ network segmentation and filtering to limit exposure to malicious IEEE 1609.2 traffic, especially in environments where Wireshark is used. 5. Use alternative or updated protocol analyzers if feasible, or run Wireshark in isolated environments (e.g., virtual machines) to contain potential crashes. 6. Incorporate automated monitoring to detect Wireshark crashes and trigger alerts for immediate investigation. 7. Educate users on the risks of opening suspicious capture files and enforce strict operational procedures for handling network data.