CVE-2005-0369 in Armagetron
Summary
by MITRE
Armagetron 0.2.6.0 and earlier and Armagetron Advanced 0.2.7.0 earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a packet with a large (1) descriptor ID or (2) claim_id, which exceeds the boundaries of an array.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0369 affects Armagetron versions 0.2.6.0 and earlier, as well as Armagetron Advanced versions prior to 0.2.7.0, representing a classic buffer overflow condition that manifests as a denial of service attack. This issue stems from inadequate input validation within the network packet processing mechanism of the game engine, where maliciously crafted packets containing oversized descriptor IDs or claim_ids can trigger application instability and complete system crash. The flaw specifically exploits array boundary violations that occur when the software attempts to process network communications without proper bounds checking on critical identifiers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the network protocol handler that processes incoming game packets from remote clients. When the software receives a packet containing a descriptor ID or claim_id value that exceeds the predetermined array size limits, it attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This memory access violation causes the application to terminate unexpectedly, resulting in a denial of service condition that prevents legitimate players from accessing the game server. The vulnerability operates at the protocol level rather than exploiting higher-level application flaws, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered by any remote attacker with network access to the game server.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to game server administrators and network operators who rely on Armagetron for multiplayer gaming experiences. The denial of service condition can be easily exploited by remote attackers without requiring any special privileges or advanced technical skills, as demonstrated by the simplicity of crafting malicious packets with oversized identifiers. The impact extends beyond mere service disruption, as it can potentially be used as part of larger attack campaigns targeting gaming infrastructure or as a means to disrupt competitive gaming events where server stability is critical. Network security teams must consider this vulnerability as a potential entry point for more sophisticated attacks that could leverage the service disruption to gain further access to affected systems.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array index boundaries, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks through exploitation of application vulnerabilities. The root cause analysis reveals that the software implementation failed to perform adequate input validation and bounds checking on critical network identifiers, representing a fundamental security flaw in the software design phase. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected versions to 0.2.7.0 or later, implementing network-level filtering to block malformed packets, and establishing proper input validation mechanisms that enforce strict bounds checking on all incoming network communications. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious packet patterns associated with this specific vulnerability.