Read the docs
TI-2023-10309 Aliases CVE-2023-24809

NetHack Call command buffer overflow

Priority LOW 24CWE-120Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Denial of service
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · None · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-120 and the CVSS impact.

Summary

NetHack is a single player dungeon exploration game. Starting with version 3.6.2 and prior to version 3.6.7, illegal input to the "C" (call) command can cause a buffer overflow and crash the NetHack process. This vulnerability may be a security issue for systems that have NetHack installed suid/sgid and for shared systems. For all systems, it may result in a process crash. This issue is resolved in NetHack 3.6.7. There are no known workarounds.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00235 14th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed NetHack (NetHack): 3.6.7

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
NetHackNetHack3.6.2 to before 3.6.73.6.7Patch availableCNA
  • NetHack VendorNetHack Affected 3.6.2 to before 3.6.7 Fixed in 3.6.7 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:nethack:nethack:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*3.6.2 to before 3.6.7VulnerableNetHack
  • cpe:2.3:a:nethack:nethack:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.6.2 to before 3.6.7 Vulnerable ·NetHack

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA NetHack (NetHack) Fixed in 3.6.7

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat's page for this CVE →

Not affected: 1 product
  • Red Hat

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-24809

References

  • TI-2019-14352 NetHack 3.6.x before 3.6.4 is prone to a buffer overflow vulnerability when reading very… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2020-04270 NetHack error recovery after syntax error in configuration file is subject to a buffer overflow CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2020-04269 NetHack SYMBOL configuration file option is subject to a buffer overflow CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2020-04268 NetHack MENUCOLOR configuration file option is subject to a buffer overflow CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2020-04267 NetHack AUTOCOMPLETE configuration file option is subject to a buffer overflow CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2020-04309 Privilege escalation in NetHack CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
See all 10 →

Sources