CVE-2004-1522 in Army Men Real Time Strategy Game
Summary
by MITRE
Format string vulnerability in Army Men RTS 1.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a nickname that contains format strings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1522 represents a classic format string vulnerability affecting the Army Men RTS 1.0 gaming application. This type of vulnerability occurs when an application improperly handles user-supplied input that contains format specifiers such as %s, %d, or %x within printf or similar functions. The specific flaw manifests when the game processes player nicknames that contain these format string characters, allowing malicious input to manipulate the application's execution flow. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-134 which specifically addresses the use of user-supplied format strings in functions like printf, sprintf, or fprintf without proper validation or sanitization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates how improperly validated user input can lead to arbitrary code execution or application instability. When a malicious user enters a nickname containing format string specifiers, the game's code likely passes this input directly to a printf function without proper formatting controls. This allows attackers to read memory contents, overwrite stack variables, or cause the application to crash. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in multiplayer gaming environments where user input is frequently processed and displayed, as it provides a straightforward path for remote attackers to disrupt gameplay and potentially gain deeper system access.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for online gaming services and multiplayer environments. The denial of service condition can disrupt gameplay sessions, affect player experience, and potentially serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in networked gaming environments. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1210 - Exploitation of Remote Services and T1499 - Endpoint Denial of Service, as it enables attackers to compromise system availability and potentially establish persistent access through service disruption.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied data, particularly nicknames and chat messages. Developers should implement proper format string handling by using functions that accept format strings as parameters only when explicitly required, and by employing safer alternatives such as snprintf with fixed format strings. Additionally, the application should validate and filter out potentially malicious characters from user input before processing. System administrators should consider implementing network-level protections such as intrusion detection systems and rate limiting for game services. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and regular security assessments of gaming applications, as such flaws can persist for years without detection, as evidenced by this CVE from 2004. Organizations should maintain updated security patches and conduct thorough code reviews to prevent similar issues in future software releases.