players "freezing" the game???

¤[4thPHiL]¤ Machalnik · **players "freezing" the game??? -** 10-14-2002, 07:39 PM

I run a small dedicated server and over the last couple days I have encountered two players who have some how "froze" the game play. One of the 2 times this resulted in the server completely crashing. Before you call me paranoid or reply with the standard "nothing like this exists" response, consider that both times it happened the offending players made threats about freezing or "messing up" the server immediately before it happened. Others were also present at the time, so this can be verified. If anyone has experienced this and has any information about this exploit, specifically what it does and how it maybe damaging to my machine or network (or if there is any way to prevent it!) please contact me via PM. I agree these things do not need to be discussed in public. Sorry to have to make a post like this (when there are so many CHEAT posts lately) but I need information about this matter.

r3mix · 10-14-2002, 08:17 PM

flooding the port would most likely work.
lot of general tools out there that will just loop connections to any service you point it to as well.
dont know of anything through the game though.

Captain_McCusker · 10-14-2002, 09:14 PM

Ban the bastards. If it happens more, change your IP and let your regular users know.

I wish you good luck. It's really too bad that there are so many a__holes out there that have to ruin everyone's good time.

psycho fluff · 10-15-2002, 09:40 AM

i know this may sound stupidly obvious but you do realise there is a FREEZE game and CRASH command in the console?

Anyhow there is, and if you dont know it then good... they are pointless commands i think, not much use in playing if you want to crash the server.

Anyhow the best way to avoid this is to either put in a server password (rconpassword xxxx) or just don't tell people you don't have one... just use some common sense is all

¤[4thPHiL]¤ Machalnik · 10-15-2002, 10:46 AM

Yes, I am aware of those two commands. My server runs dedicated and is rcon passworded (hence my concern). Can these commands be issued by a client and have effect on the server?? I wouldn't think so... if someone knows different please help out here.

I'm looking into all the standard methods of getting at the machine/network (if it was port flood or that sort of thing). I would chalk this up to a fluke if it hadn't happened on 2 occasions. Both times there was talk about causing some disruption and neither time did the player have to leave the game to make this happen. If it was just a coincidence... then these two guys have the worse luck in the world!

Thanks for all your help tho guys!!

psycho fluff · 10-15-2002, 11:06 AM

i did write a nice long reply but i guess your getting the short version as i closed the internet explorer window before i sent the reply... lol closed one i thought was advert, but was this... Oooops

Do you have a firewall or a static IP? (does'nt change when you reconnect to internet)

if you have a staic IP then someone can easily hack your computer... install a backdoor and find you again whenever they wanted... if you have a firewall that should warn you (if you know how to use it) everytime your computer uses a port without your express permition!!!

if someone has put a program onto your computer it'll be near impossible to find and remove... a firewall will also tell you where and what is trying to access your ports... if you have been hacked then it does'nt matter what rcon passwords you use, what security your credit cards have or what expencive computer terminal you own... your screwed

Rev Aristotle Jones · 10-15-2002, 12:12 PM

I've seen similar threads on this where people have been able to crash servers using the ladder hack....never experienced it myself, but that's apparently one way that it is done.

psycho fluff · 10-15-2002, 12:18 PM

literally type CRASH in console... or rcon crash and you'll break it... have no idea why anyone would need this command but that will break the server!

Not to mention crash your pc and ruin your game for an hour or so until you fix it all.

Redeye · 10-17-2002, 02:17 PM

that bane of quake engine games ogc hook can be used to do this, i've seen configurations of it that overload the server with graphics and opengl request packets; and before you dismiss me you cang et ogc hooks for moh:aa and they do work, and unfortunately we cant defend against them, whoopdeedoo, mohaa turns into cs... hake:

¤[4thPHiL]¤ Machalnik · 10-19-2002, 10:15 PM

interesting! Thanks for that info guy... I'll have to look into that! Really something like that makes more sense, because both times the player did it without leaving the game.

DJBUCKSHOT · 10-19-2002, 10:36 PM

Oh ffs... Not another CS hake:

This has happened to our server on several occasions, we have had rival clans come to our server and threaten loads of cowdung. Didnt believe at first, but you soon start when you get the "Server Timed Out" Or "Server Disconnected" message.

Like McCuskar said... There will always be some a__hole wanting to screw our fun up.