CVE-2005-1772 in Terminator 3 War Of The Machines
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the client cd-key hash in Terminator 3: War of the Machines 1.16 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a long client cd-key hash value, a different vulnerability than CVE-2005-1556.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1772 represents a classic buffer overflow flaw within the client-side cd-key validation mechanism of Terminator 3: War of the Machines version 1.16 and earlier. This issue specifically targets the handling of cd-key hash values during client authentication processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the game's security architecture. The vulnerability operates through a well-documented pattern where insufficient input validation allows attackers to submit excessively long cd-key hash values that exceed the allocated buffer space. This particular flaw differs from CVE-2005-1556, which addressed a separate but related authentication vulnerability, making CVE-2005-1772 a distinct operational risk that requires specific mitigation strategies.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow stems from inadequate bounds checking within the cd-key hash processing code. When a client application receives a cd-key hash value, it attempts to store this data in a fixed-size memory buffer without proper validation of the input length. This primitive memory management error creates an exploitable condition where an attacker can deliberately craft a cd-key hash that exceeds the buffer capacity by several bytes. The overflow occurs during the hash value processing phase, typically when the application attempts to copy or manipulate the cd-key data for authentication purposes. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, representing a fundamental weakness in input handling that has been prevalent in legacy software applications. The flaw demonstrates poor defensive programming practices that have been documented in numerous security assessments and vulnerability analyses conducted by cybersecurity professionals.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-1772 manifests primarily as a denial of service condition that results in application crashes and system instability. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, the targeted game client becomes unresponsive and terminates unexpectedly, effectively preventing legitimate users from accessing the game service. This disruption can be particularly damaging in multiplayer gaming environments where consistent service availability is critical for user experience and community engagement. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the target system, enabling widespread disruption across multiple client installations simultaneously. From an attack surface perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which describes network denial of service attacks targeting application availability. The flaw essentially transforms a legitimate authentication process into a vector for service disruption, making it particularly concerning for game developers and network administrators who must maintain reliable service availability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1772 require immediate implementation of input validation measures and code-level fixes within the affected application. The primary solution involves implementing strict bounds checking on cd-key hash values before processing, ensuring that all input data conforms to predetermined length limitations that match the allocated buffer sizes. Software vendors should also consider implementing proper error handling mechanisms that gracefully reject malformed input rather than allowing buffer overflows to occur. Additionally, network-level protections such as intrusion detection systems can be configured to monitor for suspicious cd-key hash patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of adhering to secure coding practices and input validation standards that are fundamental to modern cybersecurity frameworks. The fix should include comprehensive testing procedures to verify that buffer limits are properly enforced and that legitimate users are not inadvertently affected by the enhanced validation measures. Organizations should also implement regular security assessments and code reviews to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy applications that may be subject to similar exploitation patterns.