CVE-2022-3216Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Remote code execution via recursive player-name expansion

Published Sep 14, 2022 · Updated Apr 15, 2025

Memory corruption in Nintendo Game Boy Color Mobile Adapter GB allows remote attackers to execute code through a crafted battle player name. The Japanese Pokémon Crystal battle text routine recursively expands a 0x3F opponent-name byte as the ENEMY token, overflowing the stack until open-bus returns redirect execution into uncleared Mobile Adapter packet data. The target must use a physical console, Mobile Adapter GB, and the Japanese Pokémon Crystal battle feature, and a user must enter a link battle with the attacker.

CVSS severity5.0
Medium
EPSS probability0.63%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory corruption in Nintendo Game Boy Color Mobile Adapter GB allows remote attackers to execute code through a crafted battle player name. The Japanese Pokémon Crystal battle text routine recursively expands a 0x3F opponent-name byte as the ENEMY token, overflowing the stack until open-bus returns redirect execution into uncleared Mobile Adapter packet data. The target must use a physical console, Mobile Adapter GB, and the Japanese Pokémon Crystal battle feature, and a user must enter a link battle with the attacker.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-3216
Published
Sep 14, 2022
Updated
Apr 15, 2025
Vendor
Nintendo
Product
Game Boy Color
Classifications
CWE-119, CWE-674, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 14, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 15, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=n/a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Nintendo · Game Boy Colorversion=n/a

Published CVSS scores

8.8NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.0VulDBCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
CWE-674Uncontrolled Recursion
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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