CVE-2026-3201 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-1325 (Improperly Controlled Sequential Memory Allocation) affecting the Wireshark network protocol analyzer, specifically its USB Human Interface Device (HID) protocol dissector. The flaw exists in Wireshark versions 4.4.0 through 4.4.13 and 4.6.0 through 4.6.3. The vulnerability allows an attacker to cause memory exhaustion by triggering uncontrolled sequential memory allocation during the parsing of USB HID traffic. This memory exhaustion can lead to a denial of service (DoS) condition, causing Wireshark to crash or become unresponsive. Exploitation requires local access with low privileges (attack vector: local) and user interaction, such as opening a crafted capture file or analyzing malicious USB HID traffic. The vulnerability does not impact confidentiality or integrity but affects availability. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.7, indicating medium severity, with attack complexity rated high and no privileges required but user interaction necessary. No public exploits or patches are currently available, and the vulnerability was published on February 25, 2026. The issue arises from insufficient controls on memory allocation size or count during protocol dissection, leading to resource exhaustion. This flaw highlights the importance of robust input validation and resource management in protocol dissectors within network analysis tools.

The primary impact of CVE-2026-3201 is a denial of service condition affecting Wireshark users analyzing USB HID traffic. Organizations relying on Wireshark for network diagnostics, forensic analysis, or security monitoring may experience application crashes or unresponsiveness, disrupting their operational workflows. This can delay incident response and troubleshooting activities, potentially increasing downtime. Since Wireshark is widely used in IT, cybersecurity, and research environments, the disruption could affect a broad range of sectors including government, finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure. However, the requirement for local access and user interaction limits the scope of exploitation, reducing the risk of widespread automated attacks. The vulnerability does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, so data breaches or unauthorized data manipulation are not concerns here. Nonetheless, targeted attackers or malicious insiders could exploit this flaw to disrupt security monitoring or forensic investigations, impacting organizational security posture.

To mitigate CVE-2026-3201, organizations should upgrade Wireshark to a fixed version once available from the Wireshark Foundation. Until patches are released, users should avoid opening untrusted capture files containing USB HID traffic or analyzing USB HID data from unverified sources. Implement strict access controls to limit who can run Wireshark and open capture files, especially on shared or multi-user systems. Employ endpoint security solutions to monitor and restrict the execution of potentially malicious capture files. Network segmentation can help isolate systems used for packet analysis from general user environments. Additionally, consider running Wireshark with reduced privileges and in sandboxed environments to contain potential crashes. Regularly monitor Wireshark mailing lists and security advisories for updates and apply patches promptly. Finally, educate users about the risks of opening suspicious capture files and enforce policies for handling network traffic analysis tools securely.