CVE-2008-7200 in Deliantra
Summary
by MITRE
Double free vulnerability in Deliantra server engine before 2.4 has unknown impact and attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2019
The CVE-2008-7200 vulnerability represents a critical double free condition within the Deliantra server engine software, specifically affecting versions prior to 2.4. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory corruption flaws that can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The Deliantra server engine serves as a foundational component for multiplayer gaming environments, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for gaming infrastructure and networked applications. Double free vulnerabilities occur when a program attempts to free the same memory block twice, which can result in unpredictable behavior and potential exploitation by malicious actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the server engine's allocation and deallocation routines. When the software encounters a scenario where memory is freed more than once, it creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the heap structure and potentially redirect execution flow. This flaw typically manifests when the program's memory management functions fail to properly track allocated memory blocks, leading to situations where the same memory address can be returned to the system's free list multiple times. The lack of proper validation and state tracking in the memory management subsystem allows for this dangerous condition to persist, creating a pathway for exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-7200 extends beyond simple system crashes or service disruptions, as it represents a potential entry point for attackers seeking to compromise gaming servers or network infrastructure. Servers running affected versions of Deliantra could be vulnerable to remote code execution, allowing unauthorized individuals to gain control over the affected systems. This vulnerability particularly affects multiplayer gaming environments where server stability and security are paramount, as attackers could exploit this condition to disrupt gameplay, steal user data, or use the compromised servers for further attacks. The unknown impact and attack vectors mentioned in the original description suggest that the full scope of potential exploitation methods remains unclear, which compounds the security risk.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected systems to upgrade to Deliantra server engine version 2.4 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the double free condition. Organizations should implement comprehensive vulnerability management processes to identify and remediate similar memory corruption issues across their infrastructure. Security teams should also consider implementing additional defensive measures such as heap-based memory protection mechanisms, address space layout randomization, and runtime memory integrity checks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-415 which specifically addresses double free conditions in memory management, and represents a potential entry point for techniques aligned with attack patterns in the ATT&CK framework related to privilege escalation and remote code execution. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on memory management practices are essential to prevent similar issues in other software components.