CVE-2024-24479 is identified as a buffer overflow vulnerability in Wireshark, a widely used network protocol analyzer, affecting versions before 4.2.0. The vulnerability arises from improper handling in the wsutil/to_str.c and format_fractional_part_nsecs components, which could be exploited by a remote attacker to trigger a denial of service (DoS) condition by causing the application to crash or behave unexpectedly. The vulnerability does not require any privileges or user interaction, making it remotely exploitable over the network. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 reflects the high severity due to the ease of exploitation and the impact on availability. However, the Wireshark vendor disputes the validity of this vulnerability, asserting that no releases, including 4.2.0, are affected. No patches or fixes have been officially released, and there are no known exploits in the wild at this time. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-120, which relates to classic buffer overflow issues that can lead to memory corruption. Despite the dispute, the presence of this CVE in public databases suggests that security teams should remain vigilant. The lack of confirmed affected versions and vendor denial complicates risk assessment but does not eliminate the potential threat, especially in environments where older or unverified Wireshark builds are in use.

If exploited, this vulnerability could cause Wireshark to crash, resulting in denial of service conditions that disrupt network monitoring and analysis activities. For European organizations, especially those relying heavily on Wireshark for security monitoring, incident response, or network troubleshooting, such disruptions could delay detection of other threats and impact operational continuity. Critical infrastructure operators, financial institutions, and large enterprises with complex network environments may experience increased risk due to reliance on continuous network visibility. Although no data confidentiality or integrity impact is indicated, the availability impact alone can have cascading effects on security posture. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk, but the potential for remote exploitation without authentication means attackers could leverage this vulnerability in targeted attacks or automated scanning campaigns. The dispute by the vendor introduces uncertainty, but organizations should not dismiss the risk, particularly if they use older or custom Wireshark builds. The impact is primarily on availability, with no direct compromise of data or system integrity reported.

1. Verify the exact Wireshark version deployed within the organization and confirm whether it is prior to 4.2.0 or a custom build that might be affected. 2. Follow official Wireshark communications closely for any updates or patches related to this CVE, despite the vendor's current dispute. 3. Limit exposure by restricting network access to Wireshark instances, especially those used for remote capture or analysis, to trusted and authenticated users only. 4. Employ network segmentation to isolate monitoring tools from untrusted networks to reduce attack surface. 5. Monitor network traffic and system logs for unusual crashes or behavior in Wireshark processes that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6. Consider deploying host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) to detect anomalous process terminations or memory corruption events. 7. If possible, use alternative or updated network analysis tools that are confirmed not vulnerable until the issue is resolved. 8. Educate security teams about the potential for denial of service via malformed packets targeting Wireshark to improve incident response readiness. 9. Maintain regular backups and ensure rapid recovery procedures for monitoring infrastructure to minimize downtime impact.