CVE-2004-1958 in Unreal Tournament 2003
Summary
by MITRE
Directory traversal vulnerability in manifest.ini in Unreal engine allows remote attackers to overwrite arbitrary files via .. (dot dot) sequences in a UMOD (Unreal MOD) file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1958 represents a critical directory traversal flaw within the Unreal Engine's manifest.ini processing functionality. This weakness specifically affects the handling of UMOD file archives which are used to distribute custom content and modifications for Unreal Engine-based games. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation when processing file paths contained within the manifest.ini configuration files that accompany UMOD packages. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious UMOD files containing .. (dot dot) sequences in their file paths, which allows them to navigate outside the intended directory structure and target arbitrary files on the victim's system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper path resolution logic within the Unreal Engine's file extraction routines. When processing UMOD files, the engine fails to adequately sanitize or validate the paths specified in manifest.ini, particularly those that contain relative path traversal sequences. This allows malicious actors to manipulate the extraction process and write files to locations outside the intended installation directories. The flaw operates at the file system level, where the engine's path resolution mechanism does not properly restrict access to parent directories, enabling attackers to overwrite critical system files or inject malicious code into existing game components.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to both game servers and client installations running affected versions of Unreal Engine. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The impact extends beyond simple file overwrites as attackers can replace critical game executables, configuration files, or even system binaries with malicious counterparts. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in multiplayer gaming environments where users might unknowingly download and install malicious UMOD files from untrusted sources. The attack vector requires minimal sophistication, as the exploitation involves only crafting a specially formatted UMOD file rather than complex network attacks or privilege escalation techniques.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of mitigation for this vulnerability, beginning with immediate patching of affected Unreal Engine versions. Organizations running Unreal Engine-based applications must ensure all installations are updated to versions that properly validate and sanitize file paths during UMOD extraction processes. Network segmentation and file access controls should be implemented to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing strict file validation policies for user-generated content and UMOD files, particularly in multiplayer gaming environments where content distribution is prevalent. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Directory Traversal and maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 Phishing with Malicious Attachments, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code through malicious game content delivery mechanisms. The remediation approach should emphasize proper input validation and secure coding practices that prevent path traversal vulnerabilities in file handling components, particularly in applications that process user-supplied archive files or configuration data.