CVE-2026-121968

7.1 HIGH 0.3% exploit odds Fix listed Denial of service Device

What it is

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.

At a glance

Exploitability: Can be exploited over the network without logging in, but needs a user to act. High risk of service disruption.
Exploit odds: 0.3% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).
Fix: A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

2026-11-04 12:48 UTC ReservedThe CVE id was reserved by its CNA
2026-11-04 21:18 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2026-11-05 20:17 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
Exploit odds: 0.3% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
Severity: 7.1 HIGH (CVSS).
Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published: 2026-11-04 21:18 UTC
Last modified: 2026-11-05 20:17 UTC
Exploit probability: 0.3% · EPSS, next 30 days
Weakness: CWE-129
Record status: Received

Attack profile CVSS 4.0 · 7.1

Attack vector: Network
Complexity: Low
Attack requirements: None
Privileges needed: None
User interaction: Passive
Confidentiality: None
Integrity: None
Availability: High

Raw vector

CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2026-121968.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2026-121968. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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Fix and advisories

https://github.com/quozl/netrek-client-cow/commit/fb322e74abee3b0b76a9c5a31df6aab5585d3127

References

NVD record · CVE.org record