CVE-2004-0735 in Medal Of Honor Allied Assault
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Medal of Honor (1) Allied Assault 1.11v9 and earlier, (2) Breakthrough 2.40b and earlier, and (3) Spearhead 2.15 and earlier, when playing on a Local Area Network (LAN), allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors such as (1) the getinfo query, (2) the connect packet, and other unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-0735 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting several titles in the Medal of Honor series including Allied Assault, Breakthrough, and Spearhead. This vulnerability specifically targets the network communication protocols used in local area network gaming environments, creating a pathway for remote code execution through malformed network packets. The flaw exists in the handling of network data structures within these gaming applications, where insufficient input validation allows attackers to overwrite memory buffers beyond their allocated boundaries. The affected versions range from Allied Assault 1.11v9 and earlier through Breakthrough 2.40b and earlier, as well as Spearhead 2.15 and earlier, indicating this was a widespread issue across multiple game releases from the same developer.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves specific network query mechanisms that process incoming data packets without proper boundary checking. Attackers can exploit the getinfo query mechanism and connect packet handling to trigger buffer overflow conditions that ultimately allow arbitrary code execution on vulnerable systems. The exploit requires network access to the target system and leverages the inherent trust relationships within LAN gaming environments where players connect directly to game servers. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflows, though the specific implementation appears to target stack memory corruption during network packet processing. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic example of insufficient bounds checking in network protocol implementations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple game disruption to potentially allow complete system compromise of affected gaming machines. Remote attackers with network access can execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application, which typically runs with elevated permissions to facilitate gaming operations. This creates a significant risk for multiplayer gaming environments where multiple players connect through shared networks, as any connected attacker can potentially compromise all systems within that network segment. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in corporate or educational environments where gaming servers might be used for training or recreational purposes, as it could provide attackers with persistent access to network resources. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that it operates over standard network protocols and requires minimal specialized knowledge to execute.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected game versions, network segmentation to isolate gaming servers from critical systems, and implementation of network access controls. System administrators should prioritize updating all affected Medal of Honor installations to versions that include proper input validation and buffer management. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around the specific network ports used by these games. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, highlighting the need for both network-level and endpoint protection measures. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unpatched game binaries and establish regular vulnerability assessment procedures to identify similar issues in other legacy gaming applications.