CVE-2024-4855Public exploit

Crash via freed secrets-array reuse

Published May 14, 2024 · Updated Mar 27, 2026

Use-after-free in Editcap 3.6.0 through 3.6.23, 4.0.0 through 4.0.14, and 4.2.0 through 4.2.4 allows local users to crash it. wtap_dump_close frees the initial decryption-secrets block array after closing an output file, but Editcap reuses that dangling array when opening the next file. A local user must persuade an operator to process a crafted capture with secret injection and multi-file output; the resulting bad free terminates only the Editcap process.

CVSS severity3.6
Low
EPSS probability0.37%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Editcap 3.6.0 through 3.6.23, 4.0.0 through 4.0.14, and 4.2.0 through 4.2.4 allows local users to crash it. wtap_dump_close frees the initial decryption-secrets block array after closing an output file, but Editcap reuses that dangling array when opening the next file. A local user must persuade an operator to process a crafted capture with secret injection and multi-file output; the resulting bad free terminates only the Editcap process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-4855
Published
May 14, 2024
Updated
Mar 27, 2026
Vendor
Wireshark Foundation
Product
Editcap
Classifications
CWE-416, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 14, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 27, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=3.6.0 <3.6.23
  2. Affected versionversion=4.0.0 <4.0.15
  3. Affected versionversion=4.2.0 <4.2.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Wireshark Foundation · Editcapversion=3.6.0 <3.6.23; version=4.0.0 <4.0.15; version=4.2.0 <4.2.5

Published CVSS scores

3.6GitLab Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
5.5NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1204.002User Execution Malicious File

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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