CVE-2001-0952 in Red Faction
Summary
by MITRE
THQ Volition Red Faction Game allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (hang) of a client or server via packets to UDP port 7755.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-0952 represents a significant denial of service flaw within the THQ Volition Red Faction game software. This issue specifically affects the game's network communication protocols and manifests through malformed or specially crafted packets transmitted to UDP port 7755. The vulnerability operates at the network layer of the game's client-server architecture, where the Red Faction engine fails to properly validate incoming network traffic, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to disrupt service availability.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the game's network stack implementation. When the Red Faction client or server processes incoming packets on UDP port 7755, the software does not adequately sanitize or verify the structure and content of these packets before attempting to process them. This lack of proper validation creates a condition where malformed packets can trigger unexpected behavior in the network processing routines, ultimately leading to system hang or complete service denial. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses issues related to insufficient input validation, and represents a classic example of how network protocols can be exploited when proper boundary checking mechanisms are absent.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass broader security implications for gaming environments and network infrastructure. Attackers can exploit this weakness to cause persistent denial of service conditions that affect both individual players and entire gaming sessions. When a client system becomes unresponsive due to the vulnerability, it not only impacts the targeted user experience but can also cascade to affect other connected systems within the same network segment. The server-side exploitation capability means that game servers could become unavailable to legitimate users, potentially causing significant disruption to online gaming communities and affecting the overall gaming experience for thousands of players simultaneously.
The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1498, which focuses on network denial of service attacks. This classification emphasizes how the flaw can be weaponized to create sustained disruptions that compromise the availability of network services. The exploitation requires minimal technical expertise and can be performed remotely without requiring authentication or elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment. The UDP protocol nature of the vulnerability means that attackers can easily craft and send malicious packets without establishing a connection, further simplifying the attack vector and increasing the potential impact across various network environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation mechanisms within the game's network processing components. Network administrators should consider implementing firewall rules that restrict access to UDP port 7755 or deploy intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious packet patterns targeting this specific port. The most effective long-term solution involves updating to patched versions of the Red Faction software where proper packet validation and error handling mechanisms have been implemented. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring solutions can help detect anomalous traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, providing early warning capabilities that can prevent widespread service disruption and maintain the integrity of gaming environments.