CVE-2014-7222 in TeamSpeak
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in TeamSpeak Client 3.0.14 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (application crash) by connecting to a channel with a different client instance, and placing crafted data in the Chat/Server tab with two \\ (backslash) characters, a digit, a \ (backslash) character, and "z" in a series of nested img BBCODE tags.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-7222 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within TeamSpeak Client version 3.0.14 and earlier implementations. This security defect manifests when authenticated users exploit a specific sequence of characters within the client's chat functionality, particularly when processing nested img BBCODE tags. The vulnerability operates through a carefully constructed payload that leverages the client's handling of backslash characters and digit sequences within chat messages, creating a condition where memory allocation becomes corrupted during the parsing process.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a precise manipulation of the client's text processing engine, specifically targeting how it handles nested BBCODE structures. When a malicious user crafts a message containing two backslash characters followed by a digit, another backslash character, and the letter "z" arranged within nested img BBCODE tags, the client's parser fails to properly validate input boundaries. This improper input handling creates a situation where the application attempts to write data beyond allocated memory buffers, leading to memory corruption that ultimately results in application crash. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, representing a fundamental flaw in memory management where the program fails to check array bounds during string processing operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it demonstrates a critical weakness in the client-side input validation mechanisms of the TeamSpeak application. Remote authenticated attackers can leverage this flaw to systematically disrupt service availability for legitimate users within the same chat environment, potentially causing cascading effects in collaborative communication scenarios. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only a valid client connection and access to the chat functionality, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through normal communication channels without requiring special privileges or complex attack vectors. From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which describes network denial of service attacks targeting application availability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-7222 should focus on immediate patch deployment to address the underlying buffer overflow condition within TeamSpeak Client versions 3.0.14 and earlier. Organizations should implement input validation controls at multiple layers, including client-side message filtering that sanitizes BBCODE content and prevents nested tag structures from exceeding predetermined length limits. Network administrators should consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous chat message patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, security teams should establish regular vulnerability assessment procedures to identify similar buffer overflow conditions in other applications, particularly those handling user-generated content through markup languages. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of the patched client to ensure that legitimate functionality remains intact while eliminating the exploitable buffer overflow condition. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation strategies to limit the scope of potential impact and establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle client-side application crashes and denial of service conditions.