Description
Wireshark 1.6.x before 1.6.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a malformed capture file that leads to an invalid root tvbuff, related to a "buffer exception handling vulnerability."
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 | 1.6.2-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | wireshark | 1.6.2-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | wireshark | 1.6.2-1 | — |
| Debian 6.0 | wireshark | 1.2.11-6+squeeze6 | DSA-2395-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | wireshark | 2.2.2-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10199-1 |
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 1.6.1 - Malformed Packet Trace File Remote Denial of Service EDB-36128 · dos · Sep 8, 2011 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 2
- DSA-2395-1 wireshark - buffer underflow Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10199-1 wireshark-2.2.2-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- [oss-security] 20110914 Re: CVE Request: Multiple issues fixed in wireshark 1.6.2 mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20110914 Re: CVE Request: Multiple issues fixed in wireshark 1.6.2 mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20110914 Re: CVE Request: Multiple issues fixed in wireshark 1.6.2 mailing-list
- http://www.wireshark.org/security/wnpa-sec-2011-14.html
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=737785
- MDVSA-2011:138 vendor-advisory
- https://bugs.wireshark.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=6135
- [oss-security] 20110913 CVE Request: Multiple issues fixed in wireshark 1.6.2 mailing-list
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:14971 vdb-entry signature