CVE-2007-6468 in Hammer of Thyrion
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the HuffDecode function in hw_utils/hwrcon/huffman.c and hexenworld/Client/huffman.c in Hammer of Thyrion 1.4.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service via a crafted huffman encoded packet. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6468 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Huffman decoding implementation of Hammer of Thyrion version 1.4.2. This software serves as a client for the HexenWorld game and incorporates custom Huffman encoding routines for network packet compression. The flaw specifically resides in the HuffDecode function located in two separate files within the codebase: hw_utils/hwrcon/huffman.c and hexenworld/Client/huffman.c. These locations indicate the vulnerability affects both the utility components and the main client application, creating a widespread impact across the software ecosystem.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking within the Huffman decoding process. When processing network packets that have been Huffman encoded, the HuffDecode function fails to validate the length or structure of incoming data before attempting to copy it into fixed-size buffers. This classic buffer overflow condition allows an attacker to craft maliciously formatted packets that exceed the allocated buffer space, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including return addresses, function pointers, or other critical program state information. The vulnerability manifests during the decompression phase of network communication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered by remote network traffic without requiring local privileges or user interaction.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe security risk that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems or cause denial of service conditions. The attack surface is broad as it affects any system running Hammer of Thyrion 1.4.2 that processes network packets from untrusted sources. Successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access, execute malicious code, or establish persistent backdoors. The denial of service aspect means that even unsuccessful exploitation attempts could crash the application or render it unavailable to legitimate users, effectively disrupting gameplay and network services. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage, as successful exploitation would likely involve executing malicious payloads.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the affected software to address the buffer overflow in the Huffman decoding implementation. System administrators should prioritize updating to patched versions of Hammer of Thyrion or implementing network-level protections such as packet filtering and intrusion detection systems to prevent malicious packets from reaching vulnerable clients. Input validation measures should be strengthened throughout the Huffman decoding process to ensure all incoming data is properly bounded before processing. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of vulnerable systems to untrusted network traffic. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management and bounds checking in network protocols, particularly when handling compressed or encoded data that may be subject to manipulation by external parties.