CVE-2006-1100 in Sauerbraten
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the sgetstr function in shared/cube.h in Sauerbraten 2006_02_28 and earlier, as derived from the Cube engine, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via long streams of input data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1100 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Sauerbraten game engine, specifically in the sgetstr function located in shared/cube.h. This issue stems from the Cube engine architecture that Sauerbraten was derived from, making it a legacy vulnerability that affects multiple implementations within the gaming and networking ecosystem. The buffer overflow occurs when the sgetstr function processes input data streams that exceed predetermined memory boundaries, creating a condition where maliciously crafted input can overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the fundamental weakness in input validation and memory management within the game engine's networking code. When remote attackers send specially crafted data streams to the game server or client, the sgetstr function fails to properly check the length of incoming input before copying it into fixed-size buffers. This oversight creates a classic stack-based buffer overflow scenario where attacker-controlled data can overwrite return addresses, function pointers, and other critical memory segments. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the network level, allowing remote code execution without requiring local system access or user interaction.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-1100 extends beyond simple game server compromise to potentially affect entire network infrastructures that rely on the affected engine versions. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected process, which typically runs with elevated permissions to handle network connections and game state management. This remote code execution capability enables attackers to gain full control over compromised systems, install backdoors, modify game data, or use the compromised machines as launch points for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects all versions of Sauerbraten up to and including 2006_02_28, making it a persistent threat for organizations that have not updated their systems.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected systems with updated versions of Sauerbraten that contain proper input validation and buffer size checking mechanisms. The fix should implement bounds checking in the sgetstr function to prevent data overflow conditions, with proper error handling that rejects malformed input rather than attempting to process it. Network administrators should also implement intrusion detection systems that monitor for suspicious input patterns and consider network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and maps to attack techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059 category for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can execute arbitrary code through this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and regular security audits to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in legacy systems that may be running outdated software versions.