CVE-2002-1192 in Rogue
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in rogue on NetBSD 1.6 and earlier, FreeBSD 4.6, and possibly other operating systems, allows local users to gain "games" group privileges via malformed entries in a game save file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1192 represents a critical buffer overflow issue affecting several Unix-like operating systems including NetBSD 1.6 and earlier versions, as well as FreeBSD 4.6 and potentially other systems. This flaw specifically targets the rogue game application, which was a popular dungeon exploration game distributed with these operating systems. The vulnerability arises from inadequate input validation within the game's save file processing functionality, creating a condition where maliciously crafted data can cause memory corruption.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves buffer overflow conditions that occur when the rogue game processes malformed entries within save files. When a user loads a specially crafted save file, the application fails to properly validate the length and structure of data entries, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to escalate privileges. This particular flaw affects the games group privileges, which typically provide limited access rights to game-related resources and files. The buffer overflow occurs in the game's file parsing routines where fixed-size buffers are used to store data from external sources without proper bounds checking.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant security risk as local users can exploit it to gain elevated privileges within the games group context. The attack vector requires the user to have access to the system and the ability to create or modify save files, which is typically feasible in multi-user environments where users have basic shell access. The privilege escalation occurs because the rogue application runs with elevated group permissions, allowing the attacker to potentially access or modify other game-related resources that would normally be restricted to the games group.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it demonstrates poor input validation practices that could be exploited in similar applications. The flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of insufficient bounds checking in input processing. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability would fall under the privilege escalation category in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting the privilege escalation technique where adversaries gain access to elevated privileges through application vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1192 primarily involve system updates and patches provided by the operating system vendors. Users should immediately upgrade to patched versions of NetBSD, FreeBSD, and other affected systems to address the buffer overflow conditions. Additionally, system administrators should implement proper file permissions and access controls to limit the ability of local users to create or modify game save files. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices including proper input validation, bounds checking, and memory management in application development. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other applications, particularly those handling user-provided data from external sources. The remediation process should also include educating system administrators about the importance of keeping systems updated and implementing proper security configurations to minimize the attack surface.