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CVE-2020-5209 Details

Description

In NetHack before 3.6.5, unknown options starting with -de and -i 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 influence command line options. Users should upgrade to NetHack 3.6.5.

Metrics

CVSS 3.x Severity and Vector Strings:

NIST: [email protected]CVSS-B:7.8 HIGHVector:CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CNA: [email protected]CVSS-B:5 MEDIUMVector:CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L

References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools

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URL	Source(s)	Tag(s)
https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/commit/f3def5c0b999478da2d0a8f0b6a7c370a2065f77	CVE	Patch
https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/security/advisories/GHSA-fw72-r8xm-45p8	CVE	Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/commit/f3def5c0b999478da2d0a8f0b6a7c370a2065f77	[email protected]	Patch
https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/security/advisories/GHSA-fw72-r8xm-45p8	[email protected]	Third Party Advisory

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-ID	CWE Name	Source
CWE-120	Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')	[email protected]
CWE-120	Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')	[email protected]

Affected Products

Product	Versions
nethack nethack	< 3.6.5
CPE cpe:2.3:a:nethack:nethack:::::::: Remediation No remediation found in references.

Change History

4 change records found show changes

Date	Action	Recorded By
Jun 17, 2026	CVE Modified	[email protected]
Nov 21, 2024	CVE Modified	CVE
May 14, 2024	CVE Modified	[email protected]
Feb 3, 2020	Initial Analysis	[email protected]