CVE-2009-2173 in Carom3D
Summary
by MITRE
The LAN game feature in Carom3D 5.06 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (application hang) via a crafted HTTP request to TCP port 28012.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2173 resides within the LAN game functionality of Carom3D 5.06, a popular pool simulation software that supports multiplayer gaming over local networks. This particular flaw manifests as a denial of service condition that can be triggered by remote authenticated users who send specifically crafted HTTP requests to the application's designated TCP port 28012. The vulnerability represents a significant security concern as it allows attackers who have already gained authentication credentials to disrupt the normal operation of the gaming service without requiring elevated privileges or additional attack vectors.
The technical mechanism underlying this vulnerability involves the application's insufficient input validation and error handling within its HTTP request processing module. When Carom3D 5.06 receives a malformed or specially crafted HTTP request on port 28012, the application fails to properly sanitize or reject the malicious input, leading to a condition where the application becomes unresponsive or enters an infinite loop. This behavior constitutes a classic denial of service scenario where legitimate users cannot access the gaming service due to the application's failure to process valid requests properly. The vulnerability operates at the application layer of the network stack, specifically affecting the HTTP server component that handles multiplayer game communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can severely compromise the gaming experience for all users connected to the affected Carom3D instance. When exploited, the application hang condition prevents new game sessions from being initiated, existing games from progressing, and can potentially cause the entire application to become non-responsive until manual intervention occurs. This affects multiplayer gaming environments where coordination and continuous gameplay are essential, making the vulnerability particularly damaging in scenarios where multiple players rely on the service for competitive or recreational activities. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor defensive programming practices and inadequate robustness in the application's network handling code.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input boundaries, and falls under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. The vulnerability's classification as a remote authenticated denial of service means that attackers do not require physical access or network-level privileges to exploit the flaw, as they only need valid user credentials to access the service. Organizations and users should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Carom3D, implementing network segmentation to restrict access to port 28012, and applying proper input validation controls. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for unusual patterns on the affected port and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure coding practices and thorough input validation in networked applications to prevent similar issues from occurring in other software components.