CVE-2004-2340 in Punkbuster Database
Summary
by MITRE
** UNVERIFIABLE ** SQL injection vulnerability in PunkBuster Screenshot Database (PB-DB) Alpha 6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the username and password fields of the login form. NOTE: the original vulnerability report contains several significant inconsistencies that make it unclear whether the report is accurate, including (1) PB-DB is really the "PunkBuster Screenshot Database" and not "PunkBuster" itself; (2) there is no apparent association between PunkBuster and "Punky Brewster"; (3) the claimed source code is not anywhere in Alpha 6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-2340 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the PunkBuster Screenshot Database PB-DB Alpha 6 system. This database application was designed to store and manage screenshots from the PunkBuster anti-cheat system used in online gaming environments. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication mechanism of the system, where user credentials are processed through username and password fields in the login form. Security researchers identified that improper input validation allowed malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands directly into the database layer through these authentication parameters. The flaw stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize or escape user inputs before incorporating them into sql query strings, creating an exploitable path for remote code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with common sql injection patterns documented in CWE-89, which categorizes improper neutralization of special elements used in sql commands as a critical weakness. The attack vector operates through the standard sql injection methodology where crafted input in the login form fields bypasses normal authentication checks and instead executes malicious sql commands against the underlying database. Attackers could potentially extract sensitive data, modify database records, or gain unauthorized access to the entire database system. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for online applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it represents a complete breakdown in the authentication security model of the PunkBuster Screenshot Database system. Organizations relying on this database for storing gaming screenshots and related metadata would face potential exposure of their entire database contents. The vulnerability could enable attackers to escalate privileges, modify user accounts, or even gain administrative access to the database server itself. This represents a significant risk to gaming communities that depend on PunkBuster for anti-cheat enforcement, as the compromise of the screenshot database could undermine the integrity of the entire anti-cheat infrastructure and potentially expose player data or gaming session information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the application's authentication flow. The system requires immediate patching to ensure that all user inputs are properly sanitized before being processed by the sql engine. Organizations should implement prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent sql injection attacks, as recommended by the owasp top ten project and the mitre attack framework. Additionally, input field validation should be strengthened to reject potentially malicious characters and patterns, while access controls should be implemented to limit database access to authorized users only. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of secure coding practices and regular security assessments, particularly for applications handling user authentication and sensitive data storage.