Code Blocks 17.12 - 'File Name' Local Buffer Overflow
Priority HIGH 72CWE-120Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Active
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-120 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
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.
Why it matters now
Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00208 11th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by the CNA
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code::Blocks | Code::Blocks | 17.12 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Code::Blocks VendorCode::Blocks Affected 17.12 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2020-37040
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-6rp6-p89c-5fpr
References
More Code::Blocks vulnerabilities
- TI-2020-19256 CODE::BLOCKS 16.01 - Buffer Overflow (SEH) UNICODE CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.7
- TI-2020-19173 Code Blocks 20.03 - Denial Of Service CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 4.6
- TI-2020-08703 A buffer overflow vulnerability in Code::Blocks 17.12 allows an attacker to execute… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.5
Sources
- CVE-2020-37040 · CVE Program
- CVE-2020-37040 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-6rp6-p89c-5fpr · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences