CVE-2006-6664 in Marathon Aleph One
Summary
by MITRE
Format string vulnerability in Marathon Aleph One before 0.17.1 and 2006-12-17 might allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or execute arbitrary code via format string specifiers in the TopLevelLogger::logMessageV function in Misc/Logging.cpp. NOTE: some details were obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2019
The CVE-2006-6664 vulnerability represents a critical format string flaw in the Marathon Aleph One game engine version 0.17.0 and earlier, as well as the 2006-12-17 release. This vulnerability resides within the TopLevelLogger::logMessageV function located in the Misc/Logging.cpp source file, making it a fundamental component of the application's logging infrastructure. The flaw arises from improper handling of user-supplied input data that gets directly processed through format string functions without adequate sanitization or validation, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers to compromise system integrity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-134, which specifically addresses format string vulnerabilities where format specifiers in user-controlled input are processed without proper validation. When the logging function receives malformed input containing format specifiers such as %s, %d, or %x, the application's memory management becomes compromised as the program attempts to interpret these specifiers as memory addresses rather than literal characters. This misinterpretation can lead to stack corruption, memory access violations, or arbitrary code execution depending on the specific nature of the injected format specifiers. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and proper string formatting practices that are fundamental to secure coding standards.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full system compromise potential. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to cause application crashes that result in denial of service, disrupting legitimate user access to the game engine. However, the more severe implications involve arbitrary code execution capabilities that allow attackers to execute malicious instructions with the privileges of the affected application process. This could enable attackers to install backdoors, modify game data, or potentially escalate privileges to gain broader system access. The vulnerability affects the core logging functionality, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through normal application usage patterns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-6664 should focus on immediate patch deployment to version 0.17.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to address the format string vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures within the logging functions is essential to prevent user-supplied data from being processed through format string functions. Security practitioners should enforce the use of safe string handling practices such as using printf with explicit format strings rather than allowing user input to dictate format specifiers. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of code review processes and static analysis tools that can identify similar format string issues in legacy codebases. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential exploitation vectors while awaiting patch deployment, as this vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique of code injection and privilege escalation. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the fix does not introduce regressions in the logging functionality while maintaining the application's core operational integrity.