CVE-2005-3488 in Scorched 3D
Summary
by MITRE
Scorched 3D 39.1 (bf) and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (long loop and server hang) via a negative numplayers value that bypasses a signed check in ServerConnectHandler.cpp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3488 affects Scorched 3D version 39.1 and earlier, representing a critical denial of service weakness in the game's networking infrastructure. This flaw manifests through a specific input validation bypass that allows remote attackers to manipulate the game server's connection handling mechanism. The vulnerability resides within the ServerConnectHandler.cpp source file where a signed integer check fails to properly validate incoming connection parameters, specifically targeting the numplayers value parameter that controls multiplayer session configuration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a fundamental flaw in input sanitization where the system accepts negative values for the numplayers parameter without proper validation. This oversight creates a scenario where the server enters an infinite loop or becomes unresponsive when processing malformed connection requests. The bypass occurs because the signed check mechanism that should prevent negative values from being processed fails to properly enforce the validation, allowing malicious input to proceed unchecked into the server's processing logic. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array indices and other input validation issues that can lead to resource exhaustion and system instability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to game server availability and player experience. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to cause persistent server hangs and denial of service conditions that affect legitimate players attempting to connect to the game. The impact extends beyond simple disruption as the server may require manual intervention or restart to recover from the sustained resource exhaustion caused by the malformed connection attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates poor defensive programming practices where input validation is insufficient to prevent malicious manipulation of system parameters that control core server operations.
The attack vector for this vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed remotely without authentication, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible game servers. The flaw represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can create pathways for resource exhaustion attacks, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks. Organizations running Scorched 3D servers should prioritize immediate patching to address this vulnerability, as the impact can effectively shut down game services and disrupt multiplayer gaming experiences for legitimate users. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing comprehensive input validation and boundary checking mechanisms in networked applications to prevent similar issues from occurring in other systems.