CVE-2018-14438
In Wireshark through 2.6.2, the create_app_running_mutex function in wsutil/file_util.c calls...
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.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- None
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
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.
- Record
CVE-2018-14438- CVSS 3.0
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - CVSS 2.0
- 5.0 Medium
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-20
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
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.
- Record
CVE-2018-14438- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2018-6355 No score
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.
- Record
EUVD-2018-6355- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-jvmf-8grh-h7xw
In Wireshark through 2.6.2, the create_app_running_mutex function in wsutil/file_util.c calls...
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.
- Record
GHSA-jvmf-8grh-h7xw- CVSS 3.0
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - Weakness
- CWE-20
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
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.
- Record
CVE-2018-14438- CVSS 3.0
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-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.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2018-14438- CVSS 3.0
- 7.5 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
wiresharkUbuntu:14.04:LTS |
before 2.6.3-1~ubuntu14.04.1, plus listed versions 1.10.2-11.10.3-11.10.5-1ubuntu11.10.5-21.10.6-11.12.1+g01b65bf-4+deb8u11ubuntu0.14.04.1 |
2.6.3-1~ubuntu14.04.1 |
wiresharkUbuntu:16.04:LTS |
before 2.6.3-1~ubuntu16.04.1, plus listed versions 1.12.7+g7fc8978-11.12.8+g5b6e543-22.0.1+g59ea380-3build12.0.2+ga16e22e-12.2.6+g32dac6a-2ubuntu0.16.04 |
2.6.3-1~ubuntu16.04.1 |
wiresharkUbuntu:18.04:LTS |
before 2.6.3-1~ubuntu18.04.1, plus listed versions 2.4.2-12.4.3-12.4.4-12.4.5-1 |
2.6.3-1~ubuntu18.04.1 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2018-14438 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.5) in Wireshark, published July 20, 2018. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.18%, the 67th percentile. Fixed in wireshark 2.6.3-1~ubuntu14.04.1.