Description
The "decode as" feature in packet-bssap.c in the SCCP dissector in Wireshark (formerly Ethereal) 0.99.6 through 0.99.8 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a malformed packet.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | wireshark | 1.0.0-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | wireshark | 1.0.0-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | wireshark | 1.0.0-1 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | wireshark +1 | 1.0.3-4.el5_2 | RHSA-2008:0890 |
| RHEL 4 | wireshark +1 | 1.0.3-3.el4_7 | RHSA-2008:0890 |
| RHEL 3 | wireshark +1 | 1.0.3-EL3.3 | RHSA-2008:0890 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- Wireshark 0.99.8 - SCCP Dissector Decode As Feature Denial of Service EDB-31554 · dos · Mar 28, 2008 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- RHSA-2008:0890 Red Hat Security Advisory: wireshark security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
References
- 29622 third-party-advisory
- SUSE-SR:2008:008 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2008:0890 vendor-advisory
- 20080404 rPSA-2008-0138-1 tshark wireshark mailing-list
- FEDORA-2008-3040 vendor-advisory
- wireshark-sccp-dissector-dos(41517) vdb-entry
- 29695 third-party-advisory
- MDVSA-2008:091 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-200805-05 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10238 vdb-entry signature
- http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2008-0138
- 29971 third-party-advisory
- 28485 vdb-entry
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2008-392.htm
- 32091 third-party-advisory
- 29736 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2008-2773 vdb-entry
- 1019728 vdb-entry
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:15074 vdb-entry signature
- http://www.wireshark.org/security/wnpa-sec-2008-02.html
- ADV-2008-1007 vdb-entry
- 29569 third-party-advisory
- https://issues.rpath.com/browse/RPL-2418
- FEDORA-2008-2941 vendor-advisory