CVE-2007-1981 in Metamod-P
Summary
by MITRE
The safevoid_vsnprintf function in Metamod-P 1.19p29 and earlier on Windows allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) via a long meta list command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1981 resides within the Metamod-P plugin system for source engine games, specifically affecting versions 1.19p29 and earlier on Windows platforms. This issue manifests through the safevoid_vsnprintf function which processes meta list commands, creating a potential avenue for remote attackers to disrupt service availability. The vulnerability represents a classic buffer management flaw that can be exploited to trigger daemon crashes, effectively rendering the affected gaming server unavailable to legitimate users.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation within the safevoid_vsnprintf function implementation. When processing a meta list command containing an excessively long string, the function fails to properly constrain buffer boundaries, leading to memory corruption that ultimately results in daemon termination. This vulnerability operates under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow conditions, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw specifically impacts the Windows implementation of Metamod-P, suggesting platform-specific memory management issues that differ from other operating system variants.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be leveraged by remote attackers to systematically crash gaming servers without requiring authentication or elevated privileges. This makes it particularly dangerous in multiplayer gaming environments where server stability is critical for user experience and game integrity. The denial of service condition affects not only the immediate gaming session but can potentially disrupt entire gaming communities or competitive events that rely on stable server infrastructure. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability with minimal technical expertise, making it a preferred method for disrupting online gaming services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate version updates to Metamod-P 1.20 or later, which contain patched implementations of the safevoid_vsnprintf function with proper input validation. Network-level protections such as rate limiting and command filtering can provide temporary defense while updates are deployed. System administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual command patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks, emphasizing the need for both preventive measures and incident response capabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing input sanitization at the application level and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar buffer management issues in other components of their gaming infrastructure.