Re: FICS buffer overflow

[rohrerm () UNIX2 KSU EDU (Lionman)]

I should note that FICS development has been closed since 96.  I would
guess 1.7.something is the server version being used since I didn't
have this problem and I use 1.6.2 for my server.  From the work
I have done on the server, I have noticed there are many bugs in the
released sources for the server and talking about another bug is
more or less beating a dead horse.  Simply, if someone is going
to run a server, a lot of work must be done to get it stable.

Michael Rohrer

On Mon, Nov 29, 1999 at 02:57:30PM -0500, canul wrote:
> While documenting the FICS (free internet chess server) protocol for
> purposes of an alternative to the xboard program, I encountered what looks
> to be a potential for attack. This vulnerability has been verified by one
> of the largest fics based systems, chess.net <http://www.chess.net>.
>
> The problem involves unchecked user input to a fixed length
> string. Non-denial of services exploitation of the questionable code looks
> possible but not trivial, as there is not room in the buffer for shell
> code, but putting it elsewhere is certainly a possibility. I have written
> a patch that resolves the problem, in some fashion.