CVE-2018-20343Public exploit

Code execution via unchecked map element counts

Published Mar 2, 2020 · Updated Aug 5, 2024

Buffer overflows in Ken Silverman Build Engine 1 allow attackers to execute arbitrary code by supplying a crafted map file. The ENGINE.C map loader reads numsectors from the file and passes the unchecked count to kread, which copies sector records into the fixed-size sector array; similar unchecked counts govern wall and sprite copies. A user must load the malicious map, after which attacker-controlled memory corruption can execute code with the privileges of the host process.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability2.22%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Buffer overflows in Ken Silverman Build Engine 1 allow attackers to execute arbitrary code by supplying a crafted map file. The ENGINE.C map loader reads numsectors from the file and passes the unchecked count to kread, which copies sector records into the fixed-size sector array; similar unchecked counts govern wall and sprite copies. A user must load the malicious map, after which attacker-controlled memory corruption can execute code with the privileges of the host process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2018-20343
Published
Mar 2, 2020
Updated
Aug 5, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-120, T1203, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 2, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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