CVE-2006-1101 in Sauerbraten
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) sgetstr and (2) getint functions in Sauerbraten 2006_02_28, as derived from the Cube engine, allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (segmentation fault) via long streams of input data that trigger an out-of-bounds read, as demonstrated using SV_EXT tag data in the Cube engine, which is not properly handled by getint.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-1101 represents a critical buffer over-read condition affecting the Sauerbraten game engine version 2006_02_28, which is derived from the Cube engine architecture. This flaw manifests in two primary functions sgetstr and getint, which are responsible for processing network data streams during game communication. The vulnerability specifically targets the handling of SV_EXT tag data, a feature that extends the original Cube engine's functionality but introduces improper input validation mechanisms. When remote attackers craft malicious data streams containing excessive input data, these functions fail to properly bound-check their operations, leading to memory access violations that result in segmentation faults and complete service disruption.
The technical execution of this vulnerability leverages the inherent design flaw in how the engine processes extended network protocol data. The sgetstr and getint functions lack proper input length validation before attempting to read from memory buffers, creating an out-of-bounds memory access scenario that directly violates memory safety principles. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129, Input Validation and Length Checking, and more specifically aligns with CWE-125, Out-of-bounds Read, which is categorized under the broader weakness of improper input validation. The attack vector requires only network access to the vulnerable service, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with access to the network endpoint, regardless of authentication requirements. The segmentation fault occurs because the functions attempt to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, causing the operating system to terminate the process and resulting in a denial of service condition that affects all connected clients.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential system stability and availability concerns within gaming environments. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause complete server crashes, forcing administrators to restart services and potentially disrupting gameplay for multiple users simultaneously. The nature of the Cube engine's architecture means that this vulnerability affects not just the base Sauerbraten implementation but also any derivative systems that maintain the same flawed input handling mechanisms. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, Network Denial of Service, as it enables attackers to create sustained availability issues through crafted network traffic. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require elevated privileges or complex attack chains, making it accessible to a broad range of threat actors and increasing its potential for widespread impact across gaming networks and multiplayer environments that rely on the Cube engine architecture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-1101 should focus on implementing proper input validation mechanisms within the affected functions. The most effective approach involves adding comprehensive bounds checking to both sgetstr and getint functions, ensuring that all input data streams are validated against maximum expected lengths before processing. Additionally, implementing defensive programming practices such as using safe string handling functions and memory management techniques can prevent the out-of-bounds read conditions. System administrators should consider network-level filtering to limit the size of incoming data packets and implement proper rate limiting to prevent exploitation through flooding attacks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining secure coding practices throughout the software development lifecycle, particularly when dealing with network-facing components that must handle untrusted input data. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on memory safety patterns can help identify similar vulnerabilities in other legacy systems that may share the same architectural foundations as the Cube engine.