CVE-2005-2864 in URBAN
Summary
by MITRE
URBAN 1.5.3_1 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the (1) high score or (2) save game files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2864 affects the Urban game version 1.5.3_1, presenting a significant security flaw that enables local attackers to perform file overwrite operations through symbolic link manipulation. This issue resides in the game's handling of high score and save game files, which are critical components for maintaining user progress and game state persistence. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic path traversal and symlink attack pattern that exploits improper file handling mechanisms within the application's file system operations.
The technical flaw stems from the application's failure to properly validate file paths when processing high score and save game data. When the game attempts to write to these files, it does not verify whether the target path points to a symbolic link or if the file already exists in a location that could be manipulated by an attacker. This improper validation creates a race condition where a local user can create symbolic links with the same names as the expected high score or save game files, effectively redirecting the application's write operations to arbitrary locations on the file system. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-59 as improper link resolution, specifically manifesting as a symlink attack or race condition vulnerability. This flaw allows attackers to overwrite any file that the game process has write permissions to, potentially leading to privilege escalation or system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file corruption, as it provides attackers with a mechanism to manipulate game data and potentially gain unauthorized access to system resources. Local users can exploit this weakness to overwrite critical system files, configuration data, or even other users' game save files, leading to data loss or unauthorized modifications. The attack requires local system access but does not need elevated privileges, making it particularly concerning for multi-user environments where game applications might run with elevated permissions. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for executing malicious code through game or application manipulation, and T1078 for gaining access through local system compromise. The exploitability is high due to the minimal prerequisites required and the potential for significant system impact.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the fundamental flaw in file path validation and access control mechanisms. The primary recommendation involves implementing proper file path validation that checks for symbolic links before file operations and ensuring that all game data files are created with appropriate permissions and atomic write operations. System administrators should consider running the game with reduced privileges and implementing proper file system access controls to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Additionally, the game should be updated to version 1.5.3_2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this symlink attack vulnerability. Organizations should also monitor for similar vulnerabilities in other applications that handle user data files and implement comprehensive file system auditing to detect potential symbolic link manipulation attempts. The fix typically involves implementing proper file validation routines and ensuring that file creation operations are atomic and do not allow symbolic link resolution during file write operations, thereby preventing the race condition that enables this attack vector.