CVE-2020-37040

CVE-2020-37040 is a high-severity vulnerability with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.4. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-120.

Key facts

Description

Code Blocks 17.12 contains a local buffer overflow vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by crafting a malicious file name with Unicode characters. Attackers can trigger the vulnerability by pasting a specially crafted payload into the file name field during project creation, potentially executing system commands like calc.exe.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-37040?
Code Blocks 17.12 contains a local buffer overflow vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by crafting a malicious file name with Unicode characters. Attackers can trigger the vulnerability by pasting a specially crafted payload into the file name field during project creation, potentially executing system commands like calc.exe.
How severe is CVE-2020-37040?
CVE-2020-37040 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.4, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2020-37040 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (9th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
How do I fix CVE-2020-37040?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
Does CVE-2020-37040 have an EU (EUVD) identifier?
Yes. CVE-2020-37040 is tracked in the ENISA EU Vulnerability Database (EUVD) as EUVD-2020-30938.
When was CVE-2020-37040 published?
CVE-2020-37040 was published on 2026-01-30 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Other CWE-120 (Classic Buffer Overflow) vulnerabilities

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