# CVE-2003-0358: Memory corruption in n/a

> Local attackers can exploit a buffer overflow in Nethack via the -s option to execute arbitrary code and gain elevated privileges.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.6 (`AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 30 May 2003
- **Updated:** 8 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2003-0358, DSA-316-2, DSA-350, GHSA-h59w-g68x-v974

## What is CVE-2003-0358?

CVE-2003-0358 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 30 May 2003. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Buffer overflow in (1) nethack 3.4.0 and earlier, and (2) falconseye 1.9.3 and earlier, which is based on nethack, allows local users to gain privileges via a long -s command line option.

Weakness: CWE-120 (Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2003-0358?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Debian Debian Linux, Falconseye Project Falconseye, Nethack Nethack.

## How do I fix CVE-2003-0358?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2003-0358 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2003-0358 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Nethack 3 - Local Buffer Overflow (1) (exploitdb)
- Nethack 3 - Local Buffer Overflow (2) (exploitdb)
- Nethack 3 - Local Buffer Overflow (3) (exploitdb)
- By passing an overly large string when invoking nethack, it is possible to corrupt memory. jnethack and falconseye are also prone to this vulnerability. (github_poc): https://github.com/gmh5225/CVE-2003-0358
- By passing an overly large string when invoking nethack, it is possible to corrupt memory. jnethack and falconseye are also prone to this vulnerability. (github_poc): https://github.com/fengjixuchui/CVE-2003-0358

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2003-0358 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2003-0358 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 30 May 2003. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2003-0358 exists.

Affected product: Debian Debian Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-0358/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-0358/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2003-0358
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2003-0358
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2003-0358

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-0358/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.