CVE-2026-121968

Description

Netrek-client-cow through 3.3.3 contains an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in short.c handleSMessage() that allows malicious servers to crash clients via an unchecked m_recpt index. Attackers controlling a Netrek server or intercepting the plaintext TCP connection can send SP_S_MESSAGE packets with m_recpt of 36 or more, reading past players[] and shipnos to deny service.

References

• https://github.com/quozl/netrek-client-cow
• https://github.com/quozl/netrek-client-cow/blob/3.3.3/short.c#L942-L943
• https://github.com/quozl/netrek-client-cow/commit/fb322e74abee3b0b76a9c5a31df6aab5585d3127
• https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/netrek-client-cow-through-3.3.3-out-of-bounds-read-via-sp-s-message-packets