CVE-2005-2115 in Soldier of Fortune 2
Summary
by MITRE
Soldier of Fortune II 1.02x and 1.03 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (server crash) via a large ID value in the ignore command, which is used as an array index and causes an out-of-bounds operation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2115 affects Soldier of Fortune II version 1.02x and 1.03, representing a classic buffer overflow condition that manifests through improper input validation within the game's networking protocol. This issue specifically targets the ignore command functionality, which serves as a mechanism for players to block communication from specific users within multiplayer environments. The flaw exists in the client-server communication architecture where the game engine fails to properly sanitize user-supplied identifiers before utilizing them as array indices in memory management operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a lack of bounds checking when processing the ignore command parameters. When a remote attacker sends a malformed packet containing an excessively large ID value, the game client or server processes this value directly as an array index without validation against acceptable memory boundaries. This creates an out-of-bounds memory access condition that ultimately leads to program termination and system instability. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array index values, and specifically aligns with CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds write operations. The root cause lies in the absence of input sanitization routines that should validate integer ranges and ensure that array access operations remain within allocated memory boundaries.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to multiplayer gaming environments where server stability is paramount for player experience and service availability. The denial of service condition can be easily exploited by any remote attacker with network access to the affected game server, potentially disrupting gameplay sessions and causing complete server crashes. This type of vulnerability falls under ATT&CK technique T1499.004, specifically targeting network services through the exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it can be leveraged as a precursor to more sophisticated attacks, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to gaming infrastructure or disrupt legitimate player communications.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-2115 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation mechanisms that enforce strict bounds checking on all user-supplied identifiers before they are processed as array indices. Network administrators should deploy firewall rules that limit access to game servers and implement rate limiting to prevent abuse of the ignore command functionality. Additionally, the affected game versions should be updated to patched releases that include proper validation routines and memory protection mechanisms. System monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous patterns in ignore command usage that might indicate attempted exploitation. The implementation of defensive programming practices including array bounds checking, integer overflow protection, and proper error handling would significantly reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malicious packets containing oversized ID values, as this vulnerability represents a straightforward exploitation vector that can be automated at scale.