CVE-2004-2077 in Game Engine
Summary
by MITRE
Nadeo Game Engine for Nadeo TrackMania and Nadeo Virtual Skipper 3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (server crash) via malformed data to TCP port 2350, possibly due to long values or incorrect size fields.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2077 affects the Nadeo Game Engine used in popular racing games TrackMania and Virtual Skipper 3. This issue represents a classic denial of service vulnerability that exploits weaknesses in network protocol handling within the game servers. The vulnerability specifically targets TCP port 2350 which serves as the primary communication endpoint for these gaming platforms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending malformed data packets that trigger unexpected behavior in the server software, ultimately leading to complete service disruption and server crashes.
The technical flaw manifests through improper validation of incoming data packets on the designated TCP port. When the game engine receives malformed data containing excessively long values or incorrect size fields, the parsing routine fails to handle these anomalies gracefully. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-129 Input Validation and CWE-691 Insufficient Control Flow Management categories, where the system fails to properly validate or control data flow. The vulnerability demonstrates a lack of robust input sanitization and error handling mechanisms that should be implemented to prevent malformed data from causing system instability. The specific nature of the attack suggests that the engine's packet processing logic does not adequately check for buffer overflows or field size constraints before attempting to process the received data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the entire gaming experience for users. When a game server crashes due to this vulnerability, players lose connectivity and cannot continue their gaming sessions, leading to frustration and potential loss of user base for game operators. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows remote attackers to cause these crashes without requiring any authentication or privileged access. This makes it an attractive target for malicious actors seeking to disrupt gaming services or create chaos within gaming communities. The attack vector through TCP port 2350 means that any networked system running these games could be targeted, making it a widespread concern for game server administrators and network security teams.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2077 should focus on implementing robust input validation and network filtering mechanisms. Network administrators should deploy firewall rules to restrict access to TCP port 2350 from unauthorized sources and implement rate limiting to prevent flood attacks. The game engine should be updated with proper input sanitization routines that validate all incoming data fields against expected size constraints and reject malformed packets before they can trigger the parsing logic. Additionally, implementing intrusion detection systems that monitor for unusual traffic patterns on the affected port can help identify potential attacks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to industry standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Regular security audits and penetration testing of gaming infrastructure can help identify similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. System administrators should also implement monitoring solutions that can detect server crashes and automatically restart services to minimize downtime.