CVE-2007-4140 in Live For Speed S2
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Live for Speed (LFS) S2 ALPHA PATCH 0.5x allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a .mpr file (replay file) that contains a long car name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4140 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Live for Speed S2 ALPHA PATCH 0.5x gaming software. This issue manifests when the application processes .mpr replay files that contain excessively long car names, creating a scenario where attacker-controlled input can overwrite adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 buffer overflow category, specifically classified as a stack-based buffer overflow that occurs during the parsing of user-supplied data within the game's replay file processing mechanism. The flaw exploits the lack of proper input validation and bounds checking when handling car name strings that exceed the allocated buffer size, allowing attackers to manipulate the program execution flow through carefully crafted malicious input.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides remote attackers with the capability to gain arbitrary code execution privileges within the context of the running LFS application. This represents a significant security risk since the game typically runs with elevated privileges on gaming systems, potentially allowing attackers to compromise entire gaming environments or leverage the compromised system for further attacks. The vulnerability is classified as user-assisted remote exploitation because it requires the victim to open a malicious .mpr file, but the attack can be initiated from remote locations through various delivery mechanisms such as email attachments, file sharing services, or compromised gaming communities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a code injection technique under the T1059.007 sub-technique, specifically targeting application execution through malformed input files.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2007-4140 demonstrates how legacy gaming software often lacks modern security protections and input sanitization mechanisms that are standard in contemporary applications. The buffer overflow occurs in the replay file parser where car names are stored in fixed-size buffers without proper length validation, making it susceptible to stack corruption and potential instruction pointer overwrite. This vulnerability highlights the importance of memory safety practices and input validation in software development, particularly for applications that process untrusted user data. Security researchers have noted that similar vulnerabilities have been prevalent in gaming software due to the focus on performance optimization over security considerations in early gaming engines. The exploitation requires careful crafting of the malicious .mpr file to ensure that the buffer overflow properly redirects execution flow to attacker-controlled code, typically through return-oriented programming or direct code injection techniques.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the affected LFS software version, implementing input validation controls that limit car name lengths to predefined safe boundaries, and deploying application whitelisting measures to prevent execution of untrusted .mpr files. System administrators should consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious file transfers and implement sandboxing techniques to isolate gaming applications from critical system resources. The vulnerability also underscores the necessity of regular security assessments for legacy gaming software and the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches for all gaming applications. Organizations should establish security protocols for handling user-generated content and implement proper file format validation before processing any external data inputs to prevent similar buffer overflow scenarios from compromising system integrity.