Activision is addressing a self-spreading worm infection in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 by taking its servers down. For almost a month, several players got infected with the malware launched by hackers.

Activision's five-year-old flaw allowed this dangerous malware to infiltrate gamers' machines. Despite being aware of the bug, Activision chose not to fix it, enabling hackers to carry out their evil deeds undetected. The snapshot of the malware's code released on Twitter has been validated to match the issue that security researcher Maurice Heumann found and reported in 2018.

Heumann has been actively reporting problems in several Call of Duty games. It has become shockingly simple for hackers to exploit this issue, a straightforward buffer overflow with few restrictions, and get unauthorized access to gamers' computers.

Players Urged to Boost Online Protection

The security expert did not disclose the bug's specifics out of concern for player security, averting any possible dangers. Regrettably, his attempts to persuade Activision to patch the flaw failed, allowing hackers to profit from the self-propagating virus.

Another security researcher confirmed the existence of the strings in the picture after examining the malware sample, according to a TechCrunch report. The infection, known as the "CoDworm" by certain antivirus engines, unquestionably has hostile intent.

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The exact reason these hackers released this virus is still unknown, which adds to Call of Duty players' worries about the safety of their gaming experience. Players are encouraged to use antivirus software to identify and eliminate any traces of the worm to protect themselves, primarily as it spreads via compromised lobby areas, per NME.

One observant gamer examined the malware's text strings and discovered that it was particularly programmed for this Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 edition, according to Gaming Bible. The strings imply that the worm propagated across the game by randomly choosing players in modified lobby areas as "spreaders" and changing their lobby-related activities.

Waiting for Activision's Update

Activision has yet to respond to the issue. Players who expect a prompt response to safeguard their data and guarantee a secure gaming experience are alarmed by this lack of communication.

This event emphasizes the need to resolve disclosed vulnerabilities and establish strong security measures swiftly. Players rely on publishers and developers to prioritize cybersecurity and protect their online interactions and personal information as the game industry deals with more complex threats.

While the Steam servers are down due to reported hacked lobbies and the propagation of the self-spreading worm virus, users of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on Steam eagerly await developments.

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(Photo: techtimes)