CVE-2024-24478: wireshark: Integer Overflow to Buffer Overflow

wireshark: Integer Overflow to Buffer Overflow

Published February 21, 2024Updated June 17, 2026By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2024-24478 is a high-severity integer overflow to buffer overflow vulnerability in wireshark from Wireshark Foundation, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 4.2.0 as the first without the flaw, so updating wireshark to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.98% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 63% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

Update wireshark to 4.2.0 or a later version.
Read the advisory on gitlab.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

Vendor	Product	Affected versions	Fixed in
Wireshark	wireshark	before 4.2.0	4.2.0

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector: NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity: LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required: NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction: NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope: UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality: NoneNo data is disclosed.
Integrity: NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability: HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by CISA (ADP).

Official description

An issue in Wireshark before 4.2.0 allows a remote attacker to cause a denial of service via the packet-bgp.c, dissect_bgp_open(tvbuff_t*tvb, proto_tree*tree, packet_info*pinfo), optlen components. NOTE: this is disputed by the vendor because neither release 4.2.0 nor any other release was affected.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Integer Overflow to Buffer Overflow

The product performs a calculation to determine how much memory to allocate, but an integer overflow can occur that causes less memory to be allocated than expected, leading to a buffer overflow.

More Integer Overflow to Buffer Overflow vulnerabilities (CWE-680)

Timeline

February 21, 2024CVE record published.
February 21, 2024CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
June 17, 2026Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

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