CVE-2024-0211 is a vulnerability identified in Wireshark version 4.2.0, specifically within the DOCSIS protocol dissector component. The issue is classified under CWE-835, which pertains to loops with unreachable exit conditions, commonly known as infinite loops. This flaw allows an attacker to craft malicious DOCSIS packets or capture files that cause the Wireshark application to enter an infinite loop during packet processing. The infinite loop leads to denial of service (DoS) by exhausting CPU resources, causing the application to become unresponsive or crash. The vulnerability requires the victim to open a malicious capture file or receive a specially crafted packet, implying that user interaction is necessary. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high severity due to the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (all rated high), low attack complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction needed. Although no exploits have been reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk to environments where Wireshark is used for network traffic analysis, forensic investigations, or real-time monitoring. The lack of an official patch at the time of publication necessitates immediate risk mitigation steps. The vulnerability's root cause is a logic flaw in the DOCSIS dissector's loop condition, which fails to terminate under certain malformed input scenarios. This flaw can be triggered remotely if Wireshark is used in live capture mode on networks where attackers can inject packets, or locally if malicious capture files are opened. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and robust loop control in protocol dissectors within packet analysis tools.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2024-0211 is primarily a denial of service condition affecting Wireshark 4.2.0 users. Network administrators, security analysts, and forensic teams relying on Wireshark for packet analysis may experience application crashes or unresponsiveness, disrupting critical network monitoring and incident response activities. This can delay detection of other security incidents and reduce operational efficiency. In telecommunications and internet service providers, where DOCSIS is commonly used for cable modem communications, the vulnerability could be exploited to disrupt network diagnostics or monitoring tools. The confidentiality and integrity impacts arise from potential denial of service during packet inspection, which could hinder the ability to detect malicious traffic or data exfiltration attempts. Although exploitation requires user interaction or local access, the widespread use of Wireshark in European enterprises, government agencies, and research institutions increases the risk profile. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate the risk of future weaponization. Organizations involved in critical infrastructure, such as energy and transportation sectors, which rely on network monitoring, may face increased operational risks. The impact is exacerbated in environments where Wireshark is used in automated or unattended modes, potentially allowing remote attackers to cause service disruptions.

To mitigate CVE-2024-0211, European organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Immediately restrict the use of Wireshark 4.2.0 to trusted users and environments, avoiding opening capture files from unverified sources. 2) Disable live capture on networks where untrusted users or external entities can inject packets, or use network segmentation to isolate monitoring systems. 3) Monitor Wireshark processes for abnormal CPU usage or hangs indicative of infinite loops and implement automated alerts. 4) Employ alternative packet analysis tools or earlier Wireshark versions not affected by this vulnerability until a patch is released. 5) Educate users on the risks of opening suspicious capture files and enforce strict file handling policies. 6) Once available, promptly apply official patches or upgrade to a fixed Wireshark version. 7) Integrate network traffic validation and filtering upstream to reduce exposure to malformed DOCSIS packets. 8) Conduct regular security assessments of network monitoring infrastructure to identify and remediate similar protocol dissector vulnerabilities. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on operational controls, user awareness, and proactive monitoring specific to this vulnerability's exploitation vectors.