CVE-2024-0211 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Wireshark version 4.2.0, specifically within the DOCSIS protocol dissector component. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-835, which pertains to a loop with an unreachable exit condition, commonly known as an infinite loop. This flaw can be triggered by processing specially crafted packets or capture files that exploit the infinite loop condition in the DOCSIS dissector. When exploited, it causes Wireshark to crash, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability requires local access to the Wireshark application, as indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:L), and user interaction (UI:R) to open a malicious capture file or receive crafted packets. The attack complexity is low (AC:L), and no privileges are required (PR:N), making it relatively straightforward to exploit if the user opens a malicious file or captures malicious traffic. The impact is severe, affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as the crash can disrupt network analysis activities and potentially cause loss of forensic data or monitoring capabilities. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, indicating that users should exercise caution and monitor for updates from the Wireshark Foundation.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for entities relying heavily on Wireshark for network monitoring, security analysis, and forensic investigations. Critical infrastructure operators, telecommunications companies, and cybersecurity firms that use Wireshark to analyze DOCSIS traffic (commonly used in cable internet networks) may experience service disruptions or loss of visibility into network traffic due to application crashes. This can delay incident response and forensic analysis, potentially allowing attackers to operate undetected. Additionally, organizations involved in regulatory compliance and network security auditing may face operational challenges. Although the vulnerability does not directly lead to remote code execution, the denial of service can degrade security posture and operational efficiency. The requirement for user interaction limits automated exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments where capture files are shared or imported from untrusted sources.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Avoid opening untrusted or unauthenticated capture files, especially those containing DOCSIS traffic. 2) Implement strict file validation and sandboxing when analyzing network captures to isolate potential crashes from critical systems. 3) Use alternative network analysis tools or earlier/stable versions of Wireshark that are not affected, if feasible, until an official patch is released. 4) Monitor Wireshark Foundation announcements closely for patches or updates addressing CVE-2024-0211 and apply them promptly. 5) Educate users and analysts about the risks of opening suspicious capture files and enforce policies restricting file sources. 6) Employ network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of Wireshark installations to potentially malicious traffic or files. 7) Consider automated scanning of capture files for anomalies before analysis to detect potentially crafted packets targeting this vulnerability.