How severe is CVE-2020-5213?

CVE-2020-5213 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.0, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with high attack complexity, requires low privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is low, integrity low, and availability low.

Is CVE-2020-5213 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (61st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-5213?

CVE-2020-5213 affects Nethack. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-5213?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2020-5213 published?

CVE-2020-5213 was published on 2020-01-28 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-5213

CVE-2020-5213 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Nethack with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.0. 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

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.0)
CVSS v2: 7.5
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (61st percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-120
Affected product: Nethack
Published: 2020-01-28
Last modified: 2026-06-17

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.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-5213?: 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.
How severe is CVE-2020-5213?: CVE-2020-5213 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.0, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with high attack complexity, requires low privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is low, integrity low, and availability low.
Is CVE-2020-5213 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (61st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-5213?: CVE-2020-5213 affects Nethack. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-5213?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2020-5213 published?: CVE-2020-5213 was published on 2020-01-28 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/security/advisories/GHSA-rr25-4v34-pr7v

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:nethack:nethack:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Nethack

CVE-2019-19905 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): NetHack 3.6.x before 3.6.4 is prone to a buffer overflow vulnerability when reading very long lines from configuration…
CVE-2023-24809 — Medium (CVSS 5.5): NetHack is a single player dungeon exploration game. Starting with version 3.6.2 and prior to version 3.6.7, illegal…
CVE-2020-5211 — Medium (CVSS 5.0): In NetHack before 3.6.5, an invalid extended command in value for the AUTOCOMPLETE configuration file option can cause…
CVE-2020-5214 — Medium (CVSS 5.0): In NetHack before 3.6.5, detecting an unknown configuration file option can cause a buffer overflow resulting in a…
CVE-2020-5212 — Medium (CVSS 5.0): In NetHack before 3.6.5, an extremely long value for the MENUCOLOR configuration file option can cause a buffer…
CVE-2020-5210 — Medium (CVSS 5.0): In NetHack before 3.6.5, an invalid argument to the -w command line option can cause a buffer overflow resulting in a…

All CVEs affecting Nethack →

Other CWE-120 (Classic Buffer Overflow) vulnerabilities

CVE-2025-48611 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): In DeviceId of DeviceId.java, there is a possible desync in persistence due to a missing bounds check. This could lead…
CVE-2026-24823 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Out-of-bounds Write, Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow') vulnerability in FASTSHIFT…
CVE-2026-24810 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow') vulnerability in rethinkdb (src/cjson modules).…
CVE-2026-24800 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Out-of-bounds Write, Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow') vulnerability in tildearrow…
CVE-2025-9962 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A buffer overflow vulnerability in Novakon P series allows attackers to gain root permission without prior…
CVE-2010-10016 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): BS.Player version 2.57 (build 1051) contains a vulnerability in its playlist import functionality. When processing .m3u…

Browse all CWE-120 (Classic Buffer Overflow) vulnerabilities →