CVE-2005-1643 in Zoidcom
Summary
by MITRE
The ZCom_BitStream::Deserialize function in Zoidcom 1.0 beta 4 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted UDP packet with a large size value, which causes a memory allocation error or an out-of-bounds read.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1643 resides within the ZCom_BitStream::Deserialize function of Zoidcom 1.0 beta 4 and earlier versions, representing a critical flaw in network protocol handling that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks. This issue specifically targets the game networking library Zoidcom, which was widely used in multiplayer gaming applications and distributed computing environments. The vulnerability manifests when the system receives a crafted UDP packet containing an excessively large size value that exceeds normal operational parameters. The flaw constitutes a classic buffer overflow condition where the application fails to properly validate input data before processing, leading to improper memory allocation that can result in system instability or complete crash conditions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability operates through the manipulation of serialized data structures within the Zoidcom networking framework. When the ZCom_BitStream::Deserialize function processes incoming UDP packets, it attempts to allocate memory based on size parameters provided in the packet header without adequate validation checks. This lack of input sanitization creates a condition where malicious actors can craft UDP packets with inflated size values that exceed the expected memory boundaries. The resulting memory allocation error occurs when the system attempts to reserve space for data that cannot be properly handled, while the out-of-bounds read condition arises when the function attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer limits. This dual nature of the vulnerability makes it particularly dangerous as it can trigger different system failures depending on the specific implementation and memory layout of the affected system.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-1643 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire networked gaming environments and distributed applications. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability to cause persistent denial of service conditions that may require manual system restarts or application reinitialization to resolve. In gaming contexts, this vulnerability could be leveraged to disrupt multiplayer sessions, causing players to be disconnected from servers and potentially affecting competitive gaming scenarios. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require authentication or special privileges, making it particularly attractive to attackers seeking to disrupt services without detection. The affected systems may experience complete application crashes, memory corruption, or resource exhaustion that can cascade into broader network stability issues. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-129, which addresses insufficient input validation, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1499.1 for network denial of service attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1643 primarily focus on immediate software updates and input validation enhancements. The most effective solution involves upgrading to a patched version of Zoidcom that properly validates size parameters within the ZCom_BitStream::Deserialize function, ensuring that all incoming data is checked against acceptable ranges before memory allocation occurs. Network administrators should implement packet filtering rules that can identify and block UDP packets with suspiciously large size values, particularly those exceeding normal application parameters. Additionally, application-level safeguards including memory protection mechanisms and bounds checking should be implemented to prevent the execution of maliciously crafted packets. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in network protocols, particularly in distributed systems where untrusted data sources can be exploited to cause system instability. Regular security audits of networking libraries and protocols should be conducted to identify similar validation gaps that could lead to comparable denial of service conditions. System monitoring should include detection of unusual memory allocation patterns and network traffic anomalies that could indicate exploitation attempts, enabling proactive response measures to prevent service disruption.