CVE-2015-3138: Input Validation

Published Apr 16, 2015
·
Updated

print-wb.c in tcpdump before 4.7.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (segmentation fault and process crash).

Other sources

Recently an independent researcher had discovered a vulnerability in tcpdump, which would be a segmentation fault triggered through feeding into tcpdump a crafted packet, either from a live network interface or from a .pcap file. It has been assigned CVE-2015-3138 and you can find the steps to reproduce it here:

https://github.com/the-tcpdump-group/tcpdump/issues/446

Subsequent analysis made it clear that the vulnerability was introduced into one of tcpdump functions by an accident not long before the 4.7.0 release. It remained in tcpdump releases 4.7.2 and 4.7.3 (4.7.1 was never released). The next release, 4.7.4, will have it fixed, but it is likely to be delayed. Since the vulnerability has been public for a few weeks, meanwhile you might want to fix it in an update to the tcpdump package. The fix is in the following commit:

https://github.com/the-tcpdump-group/tcpdump/commit/3ed82f4ed0095768529afc22b923c8f7171fff70

Statement:

Not vulnerable. This issue did not affect the versions of tcpdump as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5, 6 and 7 as they did not include vulnerable code.

Red Hat

Affected Software

4 affected componentsFixes available
redhat/tcpdump<4.7.4
4.7.4
tcpdump tcpdump<=4.7.3
openSUSE Leap=42.2
Opensuse Project Leap=42.1

Event History

Apr 16, 2015
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·08:42 AM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Sep 27, 2017
CVE Published
via MITRE·06:00 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·06:00 PM
Description

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2015-3138?

CVE-2015-3138 has a severity rating of medium due to its potential to cause denial of service.

2

How do I fix CVE-2015-3138?

To fix CVE-2015-3138, upgrade tcpdump to version 4.7.4 or later.

3

What systems are affected by CVE-2015-3138?

CVE-2015-3138 affects tcpdump versions prior to 4.7.4 and specific OpenSUSE Leap versions.

4

Can CVE-2015-3138 be exploited remotely?

Yes, CVE-2015-3138 can be exploited remotely by sending crafted packets to tcpdump.

5

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2015-3138?

CVE-2015-3138 is a vulnerability that allows for a segmentation fault and process crash, leading to denial of service.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203