BlackTreeCVE Intelligence
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Full vulnerability report · 2003
CVE-2003-0358High confidence

Buffer overflow in (1) nethack 3.4.0 and earlier, and (2) falconseye 1.9.3 and earlier, which is based on nethack, allows local users to gain privileges via a long -s command line option

Unknown · Unknown

4.6MediumCVSS 2.0
Recommended action
Within 7 days

Medium technical severity with public exploit material referenced by a structured source; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance.

Patch available
R
Operational reassessment

Published severity in operational context

Open reassessment dashboard →
Published severityMediumOperational priority:Medium, unchanged from published severity.unchanged

Evidence used

  • No CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.
  • A structured source references public exploit or proof-of-concept material.
  • EPSS is 1.22% for the current model date.

Compensating controls

  • Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
  • Restrict local access and enforce least privilege on affected hosts.
  • Increase monitoring for the attack path and post-exploitation behaviour described in the report.

Verification

  1. Confirm that the asset runs Unknown Unknown and falls inside the recorded affected range.
  2. Verify the installed build against the product-specific fixed version after deployment.
  3. Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
  4. Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Mitigation target: As exposure requiresRemediation target: Within 365 days

This automated reassessment organises public evidence. It does not know asset exposure, business impact or control effectiveness and does not replace CVSS or a human risk decision.

Distribution package intelligence

Release-specific package status

Debian findings are scoped to the named distribution, release and source package. An absent finding does not mean a package is unaffected.

8 package states
Repository candidate not checked

A published vendor fix does not prove that a matching update is enabled and installable on a particular asset. Confirm the local package candidate before scheduling remediation.

Distribution releaseSource packageVendor stateFixed versionEvidence
Debian trixietrixie · sourcenethackVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.3.4.1-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 4 Oct 2026
Debian trixietrixie · sourceslashemVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.0.0.6E4F8-6Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 4 Oct 2026
Debian bookwormbookworm · sourcenethackVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.3.4.1-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 4 Oct 2026
Debian bookwormbookworm · sourceslashemVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.0.0.6E4F8-6Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 4 Oct 2026
Debian forkyforky · sourcenethackVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.3.4.1-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 4 Oct 2026
Debian forkyforky · sourceslashemVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.0.0.6E4F8-6Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 4 Oct 2026
Debian sidsid · sourcenethackVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.3.4.1-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 4 Oct 2026
Debian sidsid · sourceslashemVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.0.0.6E4F8-6Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 4 Oct 2026
Optional official sources

National CERT insights
?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Choose official national sources for this report. Each advisory shows its original language. Your selection is remembered on this device and included in shared links.

Official European source

ENISA European Vulnerability Database

Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.

1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier

EUVD-2003-0353

No EUVD known-exploited evidence

ENISA has published the identifier mapping but no EUVD description has been stored yet.

EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Not present in the current ENISA EUVD known-exploited dataset. This is not proof of no exploitation.
ENISA score
Not supplied in the stored EUVD record
Advisory evidence
No linked advisory details stored yet
Recommended actionWithin 7 days

Medium technical severity with public exploit material referenced by a structured source; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance.

Patch available
01

What, why and how

Buffer overflow in (1) nethack 3.4.0 and earlier, and (2) falconseye 1.9.3 and earlier, which is based on nethack, allows local users to gain privileges via a long -s command line option.

What

Buffer overflow in (1) nethack 3.4.0 and earlier, and (2) falconseye 1.9.3 and earlier, which is based on nethack, allows local users to gain privileges via a long -s command line option.

Why

The product copies an input buffer to an output buffer without verifying that the size of the input buffer is less than the size of the output buffer.

How

An attacker operating through the affected interface may attempt exploitation when the stated preconditions are met. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.

What

Buffer overflow in (1) nethack 3.4.0 and earlier, and (2) falconseye 1.9.3 and earlier, which is based on nethack, allows local users to gain privileges via a long -s command line option.

Why

The product copies an input buffer to an output buffer without verifying that the size of the input buffer is less than the size of the output buffer.

How

An attacker operating through the affected interface may attempt exploitation when the stated preconditions are met. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.

02

Exploit reality and attack path

CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.

Observed exploitation
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
No confirmed evidence

No CISA KEV match was present at the last successful refresh. This means no confirmation from that source, not proof of no exploitation.

Public PoC / exploit material
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
Reference recorded

A structured CVE source labels at least one public reference as exploit material. BlackTree has not independently validated that it is safe, reliable or weaponised.

Likely attack path
the affected interface → Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow') → cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor
Attack surface
Unspecified
Privileges required
None: unauthenticated exploitation is possible
User interaction
Not stated in the selected CVSS metric
Attack complexity
Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
Security boundary
Not stated in the selected CVSS metric
Weakness
?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-120 ↗

CWE-120: Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow'). The product copies an input buffer to an output buffer without verifying that the size of the input buffer is less than the size of the output buffer.

CVSS vector
?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Post-exploitation / living off the land
No specific living-off-the-land technique is confirmed in the structured sources. Monitor normal administration tools for activity inconsistent with the affected service's baseline.
UnauthenticatedCWE-120Public exploit reference
A

Official authority intelligence

Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.

03

Patch and workaround

Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.

Status
?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Patch available
Affected
n/a: n/a
Fixed
An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
Action
Review the linked authoritative reference and apply the recorded fixed release appropriate to the affected product branch.
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. Limit untrusted access and use least privilege until authoritative guidance is available.
04

Evidence and provenance

Published 30 May 2003 · Last source change 8 Aug 2024, 01:50 UTC · CWE-120 · Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.1
CVSS sourceNIST NVD
EPSS source
?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.
FIRST · tracked since 2026-09-13
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2003-0353
Product sourceUnavailable
Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references
CWE sourceNIST NVD
NVD statusNVD modified after enrichment

Missing structured fields: affected product. Missing data is not evidence of low risk; review the primary advisory.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗
  1. ENISA EUVD mappingEUVD-2003-0353 was added to the official ENISA EUVD mapping for this CVE.
    Before
    not recorded
    After
    {"euvdId":"EUVD-2003-0353"}
    ENISA EUVD ↗
  2. Vendor guidanceAuthoritative vendor guidance changed: added patch: nethack.sourceforge.net/secpatch.txt; added remediation: nethack.sourceforge.net/secpatch.txt; removed vendor advisory: debian.org/dsa-316; removed vendor advisory: debian.org/dsa-350.
    Before
    vendor advisory: debian.org/dsa-316 · vendor advisory: debian.org/dsa-350
    After
    patch: nethack.sourceforge.net/secpatch.txt · remediation: nethack.sourceforge.net/secpatch.txt
    nethack.sourceforge.net ↗
  3. Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
    Before
    n/a: n/a · Fixed: No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
    After
    n/a: n/a · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
    CNA ↗
  4. Remediation statusRemediation status changed from Awaiting fix to Patch available.
    Before
    Awaiting fix
    After
    Patch available
    nethack.sourceforge.net ↗
  5. Public exploit evidencePublic exploit evidence changed from No public exploit to Public exploit reference.
    Before
    No public exploit
    After
    Public exploit reference
    securityfocus.com ↗
  6. SeveritySeverity changed from Unknown to Medium.
    Before
    Unknown
    After
    Medium
    NIST NVD ↗
  7. CVSS scoreCVSS score changed from not recorded to 4.6 (CVSS 2.0 · NIST NVD · AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P).
    Before
    not recorded
    After
    4.6 (CVSS 2.0 · NIST NVD · AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P)
    NIST NVD ↗
  8. Catalogue recordCVE added to the BlackTree catalogue.
    CNA ↗
Material fields only · duplicate refreshes suppressed · history retained for the configured operational retention period
CVE published
Fixed release or patch reference recorded
ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2003-0353↗Patch or update reference↗CVE authority or vendor reference↗Public exploit reference↗Official CVE record (CNA and ADP data)↗NVD record↗
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.
Free version - for non-commercial use only.CVE-2003-0358 · cve.blacktree.nl