CVE-2020-5211 json
NetHack AUTOCOMPLETE configuration file option is subject to a buffer overflow
published 2020-01-28 6 y ago modified 2026-06-17 4 mo ago also EUVD-2020-26451
- cvss
- 5.0
- version 3.1, CNA
- cisa kev
- Not listed
- not in CISA's catalog
- epss
- 1.1%
- EPSS 1.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 65%
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
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.
Patch / fix
- nethack nethack 3.6.5
- nethack Debian 14, Debian 13, Debian 12 3.6.6-1
debian advisories DEBIAN-CVE-2020-5211
Vendor advisories
What the vendors themselves say about their products: affected, fixed or not affected, and what to do.
red hat product security vex CVE-2020-5211 updated cvss 5.0
nethack: AUTOCOMPLETE configuration file option is subject to a buffer overflow
-
Red Hat All currently supported Red Hat productsnot affected: vulnerable code not present
Red Hat CSAF VEX © Red Hat, Inc., from https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/; changed: reduced to product statuses and remediations. CC BY 4.0 · csaf
Exploit prediction
1.10% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 65% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNA | 3.1 | 5.0 | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L |
| NVD | 3.1 | 9.8 | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
| NVD | 2.0 | 7.5 | AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P |
Affected products
- NetHack NetHack
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-120 Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input
References
-
github.com
/NetHack/NetHack/security/advisories/GHSA-r788-4jf4-r9f7
third-party-advisory
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2020-5211
- NVD CVE-2020-5211
Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.