9.8

CVE-2020-5213: nethack Classic Buffer Overflow

CVSS: 9.8v3.1CriticalModified
AliasesUBUNTU-CVE-2020-5213DEBIAN-CVE-2020-5213
Published 28-01-2020Last modified 04-08-2024
Open JSON

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2020-5213 is a critical (CVSS 9.8) Classic Buffer Overflow vulnerability in nethack. EPSS estimates a 1.07% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 64.2% of scored vulnerabilities.

Overall risk
70/100
0100
High · default modelHow is this calculated?
CVSS score
9.8/10
010
Critical · v3.1 (NVD)
EPSS score
1.07%
0%100%
Low · 0.00 pp in 30 days
KEVNot listedIn no KEV catalog
RansomwareNone recordedNo known use recorded
Public exploits0No public exploits recorded

Advisory lineage

Upstream 0 · Downstream 1
MGASA-2021-0077

Timeline

  1. 28-01-2020
    PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
  2. 04-08-2024
    Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

In NetHack before 3.6.5, too long of a value for the SYMBOL 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.

CVSS metrics

5 scores · 4 sources · 2 versions

EPSS trend

Probability

1.07%

Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days

Percentile

64%

Versus all other CVEs

30-day change

0.00 pp

From 1.07% on 19-09-2026

19-09-202619-10-2026
EPSS score
1.07%

Known exploited

Compare KEV catalogs

Not in any of the 3 tracked catalogs.

Public exploits

0 found

No public exploits indexed.

Weaknesses

CWE · root cause

Affected systems

Debian1 product
  • nethack< 3.6.6-1
Nethack1 product
Ubuntu1 product
  • nethackAll versions (No fix recorded)

3 vendors · 3 products

References

5 links