CVE-2008-6737 in Crysis
Summary
by MITRE
Crysis 1.21 and earlier allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive player information such as real IP addresses by sending a keyexchange packet without a previous join packet, which causes Crysis to send a disconnect packet that includes unrelated log information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2025
This vulnerability exists in Crysis version 1.21 and earlier, representing a significant information disclosure flaw that compromises player privacy and network security. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of network communication protocols during the game's client-server interaction process, specifically when processing keyexchange packets without prior join packet establishment. The flaw enables remote attackers to exploit the game's network stack by crafting malicious packets that trigger unintended behavior in the server's response mechanism.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the game server's failure to properly validate the sequence of network communication events before processing keyexchange requests. When an attacker sends a keyexchange packet without first sending a join packet, the server responds with a disconnect packet that inadvertently includes log information containing sensitive player data such as real IP addresses. This occurs because the server's packet processing logic does not adequately sanitize or filter the response data before sending it back to the attacker, creating an information leak that violates standard security practices for network protocol implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to gather intelligence about active players and their network configurations. This information can be leveraged for further attacks including targeted exploitation, network reconnaissance, or social engineering campaigns. The vulnerability particularly affects multiplayer gaming environments where player privacy and network security are paramount considerations. From a cybersecurity perspective, this represents a failure in proper input validation and response handling that violates fundamental security principles and could enable more sophisticated attacks if combined with other vulnerabilities.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, Information Exposure, and CWE-22, Improper Limiting of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, as it demonstrates inadequate protection of sensitive information through improper response handling. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this maps to T1083, File and Directory Discovery, and T1046, Network Service Scanning, as it enables attackers to discover and extract sensitive network information from game servers. The flaw also demonstrates poor security design practices related to proper session management and packet validation that should be addressed through comprehensive network security controls and proper protocol implementation standards.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper packet sequence validation, sanitizing server responses to prevent information leakage, and enforcing strict input validation for all network communications. Game developers should implement proper session management protocols that require proper join packet establishment before processing keyexchange requests. Network administrators should monitor for unusual packet patterns and implement firewall rules to limit exposure. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices and proper security testing for network applications, particularly those handling real-time communication and player data in multiplayer environments.