CVE-2006-3632: Buffer overflow in Wireshark (aka Ethereal) 0.8.16 to 0.99.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of serv

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HIGH 10.0DOWNGRADE

CVE-2006-3632 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 10.0) affecting ethereal. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Buffer overflow in Wireshark (aka Ethereal) 0.8.16 to 0.99.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via the NFS dissector.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 6%: very likely to be exploited

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	10.0 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	7.5% (top 6%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-119
Published	2006-07-21
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: ethereal group

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2006-07-21 14:03 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:27 UTCUpdated Record last modified

ethereal group ethereal DOWNGRADE

Affected: 0.8.16 · 0.8.17 · 0.8.17a · 0.8.18 · 0.8.19 · 0.8.20 · 0.9.0 · 0.9.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 0.8.16

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy ethereal || rpm -q ethereal || ethereal --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 0.8.16 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison ethereal sudo apt install ethereal=<VERSION_BEFORE_0.8.16> sudo apt-mark hold ethereal

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list ethereal sudo dnf downgrade ethereal-<VERSION_BEFORE_0.8.16> sudo dnf versionlock add ethereal

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2006-3632?

ethereal: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2006-3632 being exploited?

CVE-2006-3632 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2006-3632 affect?

CVE-2006-3632 affects ethereal. Severity is high (CVSS 10.0). Buffer overflow in Wireshark (aka Ethereal) 0.8.16 to 0.99.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via the NFS dissector.

How urgent is CVE-2006-3632?

Priority 59/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 6%: very likely to be exploited

Related CVEs

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References

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