CVE-2004-1576 in Judge Dredd: Dredd vs. Death
Summary
by MITRE
Format string vulnerability in Judge Dredd: Dredd vs. Death 1.01 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via format string specifiers in a chat message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1576 represents a classic format string vulnerability affecting the Judge Dredd: Dredd vs. Death game version 1.01 and earlier. This type of vulnerability occurs when an application improperly handles user-supplied input that contains format specifiers such as %s, %d, or %x, which are typically used in functions like printf, sprintf, or fprintf to control output formatting. In this specific case, the game's chat functionality fails to properly sanitize or validate input received from remote players, allowing malicious actors to inject format string specifiers directly into chat messages.
The technical flaw stems from the application's improper handling of string formatting operations within its network communication layer. When a player sends a chat message containing format specifiers, the game's client or server processes this input without adequate validation or sanitization, leading to a situation where the format string is interpreted as a command rather than plain text. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-134, which specifically addresses the use of format strings in a context that allows user input to control the format string itself, creating a path for arbitrary code execution or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user input is processed without proper input validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability manifests as a denial of service condition, causing the application to crash and become unavailable to legitimate users. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious chat messages containing format string specifiers that, when processed by the vulnerable game client or server, trigger memory corruption or stack manipulation. This results in the application crashing and terminating the user session, effectively denying service to both the targeted player and potentially other users in the same game session. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multiplayer gaming environments where chat functionality is frequently used, as it can be exploited to disrupt gameplay and create a hostile environment for legitimate players.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve implementing proper input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied data, particularly in network communication channels. Developers should avoid using user input directly in format string functions and instead employ safe alternatives such as printf with explicit string arguments or functions that treat input as literal text rather than format specifiers. The fix requires updating the game's chat message processing logic to escape or remove format specifiers from user input before processing. Additionally, implementing proper bounds checking and input length validation can prevent buffer overflows that might be exploited in conjunction with this format string vulnerability. Organizations should also consider applying security patches to update vulnerable game versions and implementing network monitoring to detect and block suspicious chat message patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the software security development lifecycle and demonstrates the critical need for input validation in networked applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique for privilege escalation and denial of service through application layer exploitation, emphasizing the need for robust application security controls in gaming and networked software environments.