[NT] Halo Off-By-One Bug Can Crash Multiplayer Server

From: SecuriTeam (support_at_securiteam.com)
Date: 09/14/04

  • Next message: SecuriTeam: "[UNIX] Apache mod_ssl Remote Buffer Overflow When Performing SSL Reverse Proxy" 
    To: list@securiteam.com
Date: 14 Sep 2004 15:16:10 +0200

    The following security advisory is sent to the securiteam mailing list, and can be found at the SecuriTeam web site: http://www.securiteam.com
    - - promotion

    The SecuriTeam alerts list - Free, Accurate, Independent.

    Get your security news from a reliable source.
    http://www.securiteam.com/mailinglist.html

    - - - - - - - - -

      Halo Off-By-One Bug Can Crash Multiplayer Server
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------

    SUMMARY

    " <http://www.bungie.net/Games/HaloPC/> Halo for PC is a conversion of
    Bungie's Xbox classic - a first person sci-fi shooter set on a ring-shaped
    alien artifact in deep space, as you in the role of Master Chief, attempt
    to stop an alien race known as The Covenant from reaching Earth."

    A bug in the way the server handles handshakes with a connecting client
    allows the client to crash the server if a malformed packet is sent.

    DETAILS

    Vulnerable Systems:
     * Halo: Combat Evolved, version 1.4 and prior (PC and Mac)

    Immune Systems:
     *Halo: Combat Evolved, patch version 1.5 (PC and Mac)

    Halo uses the Gamespy SDK and specifically, the handshake algorithm
    provided in this library to let players to join servers. A breakdown of
    the algorithm is given by Luigi at
    <http://aluigi.altervista.org/papers/gssdkcr.h>
    http://aluigi.altervista.org/papers/gssdkcr.h.

    In the last stage of the handshake taking place between the server and the
    connecting client, the client is sending the last response. If this last
    response is longer than 32 bytes, it will immediately cause the Halo
    online server to crash.

    A proof of concept code that demonstrates this can be downloaded from
    <http://aluigi.altervista.org/poc/haloboom.zip>
    http://aluigi.altervista.org/poc/haloboom.zip.

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    The information has been provided by <mailto:aluigi@autistici.org> Luigi
    Auriemma.

    ========================================

    This bulletin is sent to members of the SecuriTeam mailing list.
    To unsubscribe from the list, send mail with an empty subject line and body to: list-unsubscribe@securiteam.com
    In order to subscribe to the mailing list, simply forward this email to: list-subscribe@securiteam.com

    ====================
    ====================

    DISCLAIMER:
    The information in this bulletin is provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind.
    In no event shall we be liable for any damages whatsoever including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, loss of business profits or special damages.

  • Next message: SecuriTeam: "[UNIX] Apache mod_ssl Remote Buffer Overflow When Performing SSL Reverse Proxy"

    Relevant Pages