CVE-2004-2595 in Quake II Server Linux
Summary
by MITRE
Absolute path traversal vulnerability in Quake II server before R1Q2 on Linux, as used in multiple products, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a download command with a full pathname for a directory in the argument, which causes the server to crash when it cannot read data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2017
The CVE-2004-2595 vulnerability represents a critical absolute path traversal flaw in the Quake II server implementation prior to the R1Q2 release on Linux systems. This vulnerability affects multiple products that utilize the Quake II server engine, creating a significant security risk for gaming servers and networked applications that rely on this legacy software. The flaw manifests specifically within the download command functionality where the server processes directory paths provided by clients. When a remote attacker submits a download command containing a full pathname for a directory, the server attempts to process this path without proper validation, leading to a critical failure state. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and path validation mechanisms within the server's file access routines, creating a condition where legitimate file system operations become corrupted due to improper path handling.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves exploiting the server's failure to properly validate directory paths during download operations. When a malicious client sends a download command with an absolute path, the Quake II server attempts to traverse the file system using this path without proper boundary checks or access controls. This leads to a scenario where the server encounters directories or files it cannot properly read or access, causing an application crash and subsequent denial of service condition. The flaw operates at the file system level where the server's path resolution logic fails to distinguish between valid and invalid paths, particularly when dealing with absolute paths that may point to system directories or locations outside the intended game server directory structure. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal or directory traversal attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and inadequate access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized path manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2004-2595 extends beyond simple application instability to encompass broader service availability concerns for gaming networks and server infrastructure. Remote attackers can reliably trigger server crashes through this vulnerability, effectively creating a denial of service condition that impacts legitimate users and server availability. The vulnerability affects not only individual game servers but also larger gaming ecosystems that may depend on Quake II server implementations across multiple platforms and products. This creates cascading effects where a single compromised server can impact networked gaming experiences and potentially serve as a vector for more sophisticated attacks targeting gaming infrastructure. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous for public gaming servers that lack proper access controls or monitoring systems to detect such attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2595 focus on implementing proper path validation and access control measures within the Quake II server implementation. The primary remediation involves modifying the server's download command processing to validate and sanitize all directory paths before attempting file system operations. This includes implementing strict path validation that rejects absolute paths and ensures all file operations occur within designated safe directories. Organizations should implement input filtering mechanisms that strip or reject absolute path components from download commands, preventing the server from processing potentially malicious paths. Additionally, access control measures should be strengthened to limit the server's file system access to only necessary directories and implement proper error handling that prevents crashes from occurring during invalid path processing. The vulnerability's remediation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers exploitation of vulnerabilities for denial of service, and emphasizes the importance of proper input validation as a fundamental security control. System administrators should also consider implementing network-level monitoring and intrusion detection systems to identify and block malicious download command attempts before they can cause service disruption.