CVE-2015-6243

CVE-2015-6243 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Wireshark with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.3. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-20.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 4.3)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 3% (86th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-20
• Affected product: Wireshark
• Published: 2015-08-24
• Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

The dissector-table implementation in epan/packet.c in Wireshark 1.12.x before 1.12.7 mishandles table searches for empty strings, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted packet, related to the (1) dissector_get_string_handle and (2) dissector_get_default_string_handle functions.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2015-6243?

The dissector-table implementation in epan/packet.c in Wireshark 1.12.x before 1.12.7 mishandles table searches for empty strings, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted packet, related to the (1) dissector_get_string_handle and (2) dissector_get_default_string_handle functions.

How severe is CVE-2015-6243?

CVE-2015-6243 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.3, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2015-6243 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (86th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2015-6243?

CVE-2015-6243 primarily affects Wireshark. In total, 9 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2015-6243?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2015-6243 published?

CVE-2015-6243 was published on 2015-08-24 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-October/168837.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2015-September/165509.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2015-10/msg00053.html
• http://www.debian.org/security/2015/dsa-3367
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinoct2015-2511968.html
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinoct2015-2719645.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/76384
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1033272
• http://www.wireshark.org/security/wnpa-sec-2015-23.html
• https://bugs.wireshark.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=11381
• https://code.wireshark.org/review/gitweb?p=wireshark.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=eb1ccbdccde89701f255f921d88992878057477d

Affected products (9)

• cpe:2.3:o:oracle:linux:7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:oracle:solaris:11.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:wireshark:wireshark:1.12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:wireshark:wireshark:1.12.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:wireshark:wireshark:1.12.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:wireshark:wireshark:1.12.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:wireshark:wireshark:1.12.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:wireshark:wireshark:1.12.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:wireshark:wireshark:1.12.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Wireshark

• CVE-2011-0444 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Buffer overflow in the MAC-LTE dissector (epan/dissectors/packet-mac-lte.c) in Wireshark 1.2.0 through 1.2.13 and 1.4.0…
• CVE-2010-2995 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The SigComp Universal Decompressor Virtual Machine (UDVM) in Wireshark 0.10.8 through 1.0.14 and 1.2.0 through 1.2.9…
• CVE-2010-2994 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Stack-based buffer overflow in the ASN.1 BER dissector in Wireshark 0.10.13 through 1.0.14 and 1.2.0 through 1.2.9 has…
• CVE-2009-1266 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Unspecified vulnerability in Wireshark before 1.0.7 has unknown impact and attack vectors.
• CVE-2009-1210 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Format string vulnerability in the PROFINET/DCP (PN-DCP) dissector in Wireshark 1.0.6 and earlier allows remote…
• CVE-2008-3146 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Multiple buffer overflows in packet_ncp2222.inc in Wireshark (formerly Ethereal) 0.9.7 through 1.0.2 allow attackers to…

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