Netrek-client-cow through 3.3.3 contains an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in short.c handleSMessage() that allows
Source GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.1 High.
Data as of 4 Nov 2026, 22:52 UTC
Thin evidence
One scorer or none| CNA (VulnCheck) | CVSS 4.0 | 7.1 |
|---|---|---|
| CNA (VulnCheck) | CVSS 3.1 | 6.5 |
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:NExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 4 Nov 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 4 Nov 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| quozlnetrek-client-cow | Affected
| Fixed in– |
GitHubquozl/netrek-client-cowpkg:github/quozl/netrek-client-cowOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
Users should avoid connecting to untrusted Netrek servers and consider network protections to prevent interception of TCP traffic. Monitor vendor advisories for updates regarding a fix.
Description
Netrek-client-cow versions through 3.3.3 have an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the short.c handleSMessage() function. This flaw allows malicious Netrek servers or attackers intercepting the TCP connection to send crafted SP_S_MESSAGE packets with an m_recpt index of 36 or higher, causing the client to read beyond the bounds of internal arrays. This results in a denial of service by crashing the client application.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-121968 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/quozl/netrek-client-cow/commit/fb322e74abee3b0b76a9c5a31df6aab5585d3127 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/quozl/netrek-client-cow (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/quozl/netrek-client-cow/blob/3.3.3/short.c (opens in a new tab)
- vulncheck.com/advisories/netrek-client-cow-through-3.3.3-out-of-bounds-read-via-sp-s-message-packets (opens in a new tab)