CVE-2018-14438
In Wireshark through 2.6.2, the create_app_running_mutex function in wsutil/file_util.c calls SetSecurityDescriptorDacl to set a NULL DACL, which allows attackers to modify the access control arbitrarily.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (1.18%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
In Wireshark through 2.6.2, the create_app_running_mutex function in wsutil/file_util.c calls SetSecurityDescriptorDacl to set a NULL DACL, which allows attackers to modify the access control arbitrarily.
- CVSS 3.0
- 7.5 HIGHCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
- EPSS
- 1.18% probability · 68th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-20
- Affected
- wireshark/wireshark
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS 1.2% since 27 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
References
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104876Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://bugs.wireshark.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=14921Issue Tracking, Vendor Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104876Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- https://bugs.wireshark.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=14921Issue Tracking, Vendor Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.