CVE-2020-5210 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2020-5210 affecting NetHack before 3.6.5. Understand the buffer overflow vulnerability, its impact, affected systems, and mitigation steps.
NetHack command line -w option parsing is subject to a buffer overflow.
Understanding CVE-2020-5210
In NetHack before 3.6.5, an invalid argument to the -w command line option can cause a buffer overflow leading to a crash or remote code execution/privilege escalation.
What is CVE-2020-5210?
- NetHack before version 3.6.5 is vulnerable to a buffer overflow via an invalid argument to the -w command line option.
- The vulnerability affects systems with NetHack installed suid/sgid and shared systems allowing user influence on command line options.
The Impact of CVE-2020-5210
- CVSS Base Score: 5 (Medium)
- Attack Vector: Local
- Attack Complexity: High
- Privileges Required: Low
- User Interaction: Required
- Scope: Changed
- Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability Impact: Low
Technical Details of CVE-2020-5210
Vulnerability Description
- The vulnerability arises from improper handling of command line options in NetHack before version 3.6.5, leading to a buffer overflow.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Affected Product: NetHack
- Vendor: NetHack
- Vulnerable Versions: < 3.6.5
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by providing a malicious argument to the -w command line option, triggering a buffer overflow.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Upgrade NetHack to version 3.6.5 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Avoid running NetHack with elevated privileges unless necessary.
- Regularly monitor and restrict user access to command line options.
Patching and Updates
- Stay informed about security advisories and promptly apply patches provided by NetHack.