CVE-2000-1175 in Koules
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Koules 1.4 allows local users to execute arbitrary commands via a long command line argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-1175 represents a classic buffer overflow flaw within the Koules 1.4 game application, which operates under the Linux operating system. This security weakness manifests when the application processes command line arguments that exceed the allocated buffer space, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by local attackers to gain elevated privileges and execute arbitrary code on the target system. The vulnerability specifically affects the game's command line parsing mechanism, where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious input to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs during the initialization phase of the Koules application when it processes command line parameters passed to the executable. The flaw stems from improper input validation within the argument parsing routine, where the application fails to properly check the length of input arguments before copying them into fixed-size buffers. This oversight creates a condition where a user can provide an excessively long command line argument that exceeds the predetermined buffer capacity, resulting in memory corruption that can be manipulated to redirect program execution flow. The vulnerability is classified as a local privilege escalation vector since it requires local system access to exploit, but the successful exploitation can potentially elevate the attacker's privileges to those of the running process.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems running Koules 1.4, particularly in multi-user environments where local access might be obtained through various means such as legitimate user accounts or compromised credentials. The impact extends beyond simple command execution, as successful exploitation can allow attackers to bypass system security controls, access sensitive data, or establish persistent access to the compromised system. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-121 indicates it involves stack-based buffer overflow conditions, which aligns with the typical exploitation patterns of such flaws. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through the standard attack vectors documented in the attack technique framework, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code through controlled buffer overflows.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2000-1175 involve multiple layers of security controls including immediate patching of the Koules application to version 1.5 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. System administrators should implement proper access controls to limit local user privileges and monitor for unusual command line argument patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, the application should be configured to run with minimal required privileges and proper memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries should be implemented. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation practices and adheres to security principles outlined in industry standards where proper bounds checking and memory management are essential components of secure software development lifecycle practices. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms and regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy applications that may not receive ongoing security updates.