CVE-2008-6712 in Crysis
Summary
by MITRE
The HTTP/XML-RPC service in Crysis 1.21 (game version 1.1.1.6156) and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a long HTTP request, which triggers a NULL pointer dereference.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6712 affects the HTTP/XML-RPC service component within Crysis version 1.21 and earlier game installations. This represents a critical security flaw that manifests through improper input validation mechanisms within the game's network communication infrastructure. The issue specifically targets the handling of HTTP requests processed by the XML-RPC service, which is responsible for enabling remote procedure calls and communication between the game client and server components. The vulnerability exists in the game's networking stack where it fails to adequately validate the length and structure of incoming HTTP requests before processing them through the XML-RPC framework.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a NULL pointer dereference condition that occurs when the HTTP/XML-RPC service receives a malformed request containing excessive data. When a remote attacker crafts and sends an HTTP request with an abnormally long payload, the service attempts to process this input without proper bounds checking or validation. This leads to a scenario where the application tries to dereference a null pointer during the request handling process, resulting in an immediate application crash and subsequent denial of service condition. The flaw operates at the application layer and demonstrates poor error handling practices within the game's network processing code, where insufficient input sanitization allows malicious payloads to traverse the normal execution flow and trigger system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it provides attackers with a straightforward method to compromise the availability of Crysis game services and potentially disrupt multiplayer gaming experiences. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause the game server or client application to crash repeatedly, forcing players to restart their sessions and potentially disrupting ongoing matches or game progress. This denial of service condition affects both single-player and multiplayer environments where the XML-RPC service is active, and the attack can be executed remotely without requiring authentication or specialized privileges. The vulnerability's exploitability is particularly concerning given that it requires minimal technical expertise to implement, making it accessible to a wide range of potential attackers who may seek to disrupt gaming experiences or cause service interruptions.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which describes NULL pointer dereference conditions, representing a fundamental flaw in memory management and input validation practices. The issue also relates to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network disruption through resource exhaustion or service interruption. The vulnerability's characteristics suggest that the game's developers failed to implement proper input validation mechanisms and robust error handling procedures that would prevent malformed requests from causing application instability. Security practitioners should note that this represents a classic example of insufficient input validation, where the system does not adequately check the length, format, or content of incoming requests before processing them. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing defensive programming practices including bounds checking, input sanitization, and graceful error handling to prevent similar issues in networked applications and gaming platforms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch deployment and implementation of network-level protections. The primary solution involves updating to Crysis version 1.22 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and error handling mechanisms. Network administrators should also consider implementing rate limiting and request length restrictions at the firewall or load balancer level to prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns of HTTP requests that might indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability. The fix typically involves implementing proper bounds checking for HTTP request lengths and ensuring that all pointers are validated before dereferencing operations. Organizations should also review their application security practices to ensure that similar vulnerabilities are not present in other network services or applications within their infrastructure.