CVE-2022-24300 in Minetest
Summary
by MITRE • 02/02/2022
Minetest before 5.4.0 allows attackers to add or modify arbitrary meta fields of the same item stack as saved user input, aka ItemStack meta injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-24300 affects Minetest versions prior to 5.4.0 and represents a critical security flaw in the game's item stack handling mechanism. This issue enables attackers to manipulate metadata associated with item stacks through crafted user input, potentially allowing for unauthorized modifications to game state and object properties. The vulnerability specifically targets the ItemStack meta injection mechanism, where user-provided data can be improperly processed and stored within item metadata structures.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within Minetest's item stack processing pipeline. When users interact with items in the game world, their input is processed and stored as metadata within ItemStack objects. The flaw occurs because the system fails to properly distinguish between legitimate user input and maliciously crafted metadata that could alter the behavior or properties of items. This injection occurs during the serialization and deserialization processes where user data is directly incorporated into item metadata without sufficient validation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to manipulate the same item stack that contains saved user input, creating a potential for persistent modifications that could affect gameplay mechanics or even enable exploitation of other system components.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to both single-player and multiplayer game environments. In single-player scenarios, attackers could potentially modify game items to gain unfair advantages or create corrupted game states that might lead to crashes or data loss. In multiplayer environments, the implications are more severe as attackers could manipulate item properties to disrupt gameplay balance, create unfair advantages, or potentially exploit other system components through crafted item metadata. The vulnerability could enable attackers to modify item durability, enchantments, or other properties that affect gameplay mechanics, fundamentally altering the intended game experience.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a form of injection attack that could be categorized under the ATT&CK framework as a technique for privilege escalation or resource manipulation. Security researchers have identified that this issue could potentially be leveraged as part of broader attack chains where attackers first gain access to item manipulation capabilities and then use these to escalate privileges or corrupt game data. The impact extends beyond simple gameplay disruption as it affects the integrity of user data and game state management within the Minetest ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-24300 require immediate implementation of input validation and sanitization measures within the Minetest codebase. The primary solution involves implementing strict validation of all user input that is processed into item metadata, ensuring that only legitimate properties and values are accepted. Developers should implement proper escaping and encoding mechanisms for all metadata fields, particularly those that might contain user-provided data. The fix should include comprehensive testing of item stack processing functions to ensure that user input cannot be interpreted as metadata commands. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and validation of metadata fields during item serialization and deserialization processes will prevent unauthorized modifications to item properties. Users should upgrade to Minetest version 5.4.0 or later where these vulnerabilities have been addressed through proper input validation mechanisms and enhanced metadata handling protocols.