wireshark security update (RHSA-2008-0890)

Original Release Date: October 8, 2008
Last Revised: May 12, 2009
Number: ASA-2008-392
Risk Level: Low
Advisory Version: 2.0
Advisory Status: Final

1. Overview:

Wireshark is a program for monitoring network traffic. Wireshark was previously known as Ethereal.

Multiple buffer overflow flaws were found in Wireshark. If Wireshark read a malformed packet off a network, it could crash or, possibly, execute arbitrary code as the user running Wireshark. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CVE-2008-3146 to this issue.

Several denial of service flaws were found in Wireshark. Wireshark could crash or stop responding if it read a malformed packet off a network, or opened a malformed dump file. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the names CVE-2008-1070, CVE-2008-1071, CVE-2008-1072, CVE-2008-1561, CVE-2008-1562, CVE-2008-1563, CVE-2008-3137, CVE-2008-3138, CVE-2008-3141, CVE-2008-3145, CVE-2008-3932, CVE-2008-3933 and CVE-2008-3934 to these issues.

Additionally, this update changes the default Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM) configuration to always prompt for the root password before each start of Wireshark. This avoids unintentionally running Wireshark with root privileges.

More information about these vulnerabilities can be found in the security advisory issued by RedHat Linux:

2. Avaya System Products with wireshark installed:

Product: Affected Version(s): Risk Level: Actions:
Avaya Communication Manager 5.1.x and earlier Low Upgrade to CM 5.2 or later.
Avaya SIP Enablement Services 5.1 and earlier Low Upgrade to SES 5.2 or later.

Recommended Actions:
For all vulnerable system products, Avaya recommends that customers restrict local and network access to the server. This restriction should be enforced through the use of physical security, firewalls, ACLs, VPNs, and other generally-accepted networking practices until such time as the system can be upgraded.

3. Avaya Software-Only Products:

Avaya software-only products operate on general-purpose operating systems. Occasionally vulnerabilities may be discovered in the underlying operating system or applications that come with the operating system. These vulnerabilities often do not impact the software-only product directly but may threaten the integrity of the underlying platform.

In the case of this advisory Avaya software-only products are not affected by the vulnerability directly but the underlying Linux platform may be. Customers should determine on which Linux operating system the product was installed and then follow that vendor's guidance.

Product: Actions:
CVLAN Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the CVLAN application.
Avaya Integrated Management Suite (IMS) Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the IMS application.
Voice Portal Depending on the Operating System provided by customers, the affected package may be installed on the underlying Operating System supporting the Voice Portal application.

Recommended Actions:
In the event that the affected package is installed, Avaya recommends that customers follow recommended actions supplied by RedHat Linux.

4. Additional Information:

Additional information may also be available via the Avaya support website and through your Avaya account representative. Please contact your Avaya product support representative, or dial 1-800-242-2121, with any questions.

5. Disclaimer:

ALL INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION AND IS PROVIDED "AS IS". AVAYA INC., ON BEHALF ITSELF AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATES (HEREINAFTER COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO AS "AVAYA"), DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND FURTHERMORE, AVAYA MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES THAT THE STEPS RECOMMENDED WILL ELIMINATE SECURITY OR VIRUS THREATS TO CUSTOMERS' SYSTEMS. IN NO EVENT SHALL AVAYA BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE INFORMATION OR RECOMMENDED ACTIONS PROVIDED HEREIN, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, STATUTORY, CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF AVAYA HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE DOES NOT AFFECT THE SUPPORT AGREEMENTS IN PLACE FOR AVAYA PRODUCTS. SUPPORT FOR AVAYA PRODUCTS CONTINUES TO BE EXECUTED AS PER EXISTING AGREEMENTS WITH AVAYA.

6. Revision History:

V 1.0 - October 8, 2008 - Initial Statement issued.
V 2.0 - May 12, 2009 - Changed CM and SES affected versions and actions, and ASA status to final.

Send information regarding any discovered security problems with Avaya products to either the contact noted in the product's documentation or [email protected].

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