Is CVE-2020-5212 actively exploited?

No active exploitation of CVE-2020-5212 has been confirmed so far. Continue monitoring, as exploit status can change.

Can CVE-2020-5212 be exploited remotely?

Yes. CVE-2020-5212 is exploitable remotely over the network (CVSS attack vector: Network).

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2020-5212?

CVE-2020-5212 has a CVSS score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).

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CRITICAL

CVE-2020-5212

CWE-120Published: January 28, 2020· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

9.8

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

In NetHack before 3.6.5, an extremely long value for the MENUCOLOR 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.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2020-5212 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 9.8.