CVE-2024-0211 is a vulnerability identified in Wireshark version 4.2.0, specifically within the DOCSIS protocol dissector component. The flaw is categorized under CWE-835, which involves a loop with an unreachable exit condition, effectively causing an infinite loop. This infinite loop can be triggered by processing specially crafted DOCSIS packets or capture files, leading to a denial of service condition by crashing or hanging the Wireshark application. The vulnerability requires user interaction, as the victim must open a malicious capture file or receive crafted packets during live capture. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker needs to have access to the victim’s environment or network traffic. The vulnerability does not require privileges (PR:N) but does require user interaction (UI:R). The impact is severe, affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as Wireshark is often used for network diagnostics and security monitoring. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating high severity. No patches were linked at the time of publication, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. The vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers to disrupt network analysis workflows, potentially delaying incident response and forensic investigations.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-0211 is denial of service against Wireshark users, which can disrupt network monitoring, troubleshooting, and security analysis activities. Organizations relying heavily on Wireshark for real-time packet analysis or forensic investigations may experience operational delays or loss of visibility into network traffic. This can hinder incident detection and response, increasing the risk of undetected malicious activity. The vulnerability affects confidentiality and integrity indirectly by impairing the ability to analyze network data accurately. Attackers with access to network traffic or the ability to deliver crafted capture files can exploit this flaw to cause application crashes or hangs, potentially leading to loss of critical diagnostic data. While no remote exploitation without user interaction is possible, environments where Wireshark is used to analyze untrusted capture files or live traffic are at risk. This includes security teams, network administrators, and forensic analysts in enterprises, telecom providers, and government agencies.

1. Monitor Wireshark Foundation announcements and promptly apply updates or patches addressing CVE-2024-0211 once released. 2. Until patched, avoid opening capture files from untrusted or unknown sources to reduce risk of triggering the infinite loop. 3. Limit Wireshark usage to trusted environments and restrict access to capture files to authorized personnel only. 4. Use network segmentation and access controls to prevent attackers from injecting malicious DOCSIS packets into monitored traffic. 5. Employ alternative packet analysis tools or offline analysis methods when handling suspicious capture files. 6. Implement endpoint protection and monitoring to detect abnormal Wireshark crashes or hangs indicative of exploitation attempts. 7. Educate users about the risks of opening unverified capture files and enforce strict operational security policies around network analysis tools.