Nethack
CVE-2020-5211
CRITICAL
Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Lifecycle Timeline
1DescriptionNVD
In NetHack before 3.6.5, an invalid extended command in value for the AUTOCOMPLETE configuration file option can cause a buffer overflow resulting in a crash or remote code execution/privilege escalation. This vulnerability affects systems that have NetHack installed suid/sgid and shared systems that allow users to upload their own configuration files. Users should upgrade to NetHack 3.6.5.
AnalysisAI
In NetHack before 3.6.5, an invalid extended command in value for the AUTOCOMPLETE configuration file option can cause a buffer overflow resulting in a crash or remote code execution/privilege. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.
Technical ContextAI
This vulnerability is classified as Buffer Copy without Size Check (CWE-120), which allows attackers to overflow a buffer to corrupt adjacent memory. In NetHack before 3.6.5, an invalid extended command in value for the AUTOCOMPLETE configuration file option can cause a buffer overflow resulting in a crash or remote code execution/privilege escalation. This vulnerability affects systems that have NetHack installed suid/sgid and shared systems that allow users to upload their own configuration files. Users should upgrade to NetHack 3.6.5. Affected products include: Nethack. Version information: before 3.6.5.
RemediationAI
No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Always validate buffer sizes before copy operations. Use bounded functions (strncpy, snprintf). Enable compiler protections.
NetHack before version 3.6.0 allowed malicious use of escaping of characters in the configuration file (usually .nethack
In NetHack before 3.6.5, detecting an unknown configuration file option can cause a buffer overflow resulting in a crash
In NetHack before 3.6.5, too long of a value for the SYMBOL configuration file option can cause a buffer overflow result
In NetHack before 3.6.5, an extremely long value for the MENUCOLOR configuration file option can cause a buffer overflow
NetHack 3.6.x before 3.6.4 is prone to a buffer overflow vulnerability when reading very long lines from configuration f
In NetHack before 3.6.6, some out-of-bound values for the hilite_status option can be exploited. Rated high severity (CV
In NetHack before 3.6.5, an invalid argument to the -w command line option can cause a buffer overflow resulting in a cr
In NetHack before 3.6.5, unknown options starting with -de and -i can cause a buffer overflow resulting in a crash or re
NetHack is a single player dungeon exploration game. Rated medium severity (CVSS 5.5), this vulnerability is low attack
Same weakness CWE-120 – Classic Buffer Overflow
View allSame technique Buffer Overflow
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External POC / Exploit Code
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