CVE-2006-2236: Buffer overflow in the Quake 3 Engine, as used by (1) ET 2.60, (2) Return to Castle Wolfenstein 1.41, and (3)

This month

HIGH 7.6DOWNGRADEDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2006-2236 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.6) affecting quake 3 arena, quake 3 engine, return to castle wolfenstein. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Buffer overflow in the Quake 3 Engine, as used by (1) ET 2.60, (2) Return to Castle Wolfenstein 1.41, and (3) Quake III Arena 1.32b allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a long remapShader command.

Why this priority

High severity
EPSS top 5%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.6 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	7.8% (top 5%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2006-05-08
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: id software

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2006-05-08 23:02 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:24 UTCUpdated Record last modified

id software quake 3 arena DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.32b

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.32b

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy quake-3-arena || rpm -q quake-3-arena || quake-3-arena --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.32b (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison quake-3-arena sudo apt install quake-3-arena=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.32b> sudo apt-mark hold quake-3-arena

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list quake-3-arena sudo dnf downgrade quake-3-arena-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.32b> sudo dnf versionlock add quake-3-arena

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

id software quake 3 engine DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.32b

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.32b

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy quake-3-engine || rpm -q quake-3-engine || quake-3-engine --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.32b (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison quake-3-engine sudo apt install quake-3-engine=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.32b> sudo apt-mark hold quake-3-engine

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list quake-3-engine sudo dnf downgrade quake-3-engine-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.32b> sudo dnf versionlock add quake-3-engine

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

id software return to castle wolfenstein DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.41

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.41

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy return-to-castle-wolfenstein || rpm -q return-to-castle-wolfenstein || return-to-castle-wolfenstein --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.41 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison return-to-castle-wolfenstein sudo apt install return-to-castle-wolfenstein=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.41> sudo apt-mark hold return-to-castle-wolfenstein

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list return-to-castle-wolfenstein sudo dnf downgrade return-to-castle-wolfenstein-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.41> sudo dnf versionlock add return-to-castle-wolfenstein

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

id software wolfenstein enemy territory DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.60

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.60

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy wolfenstein-enemy-territory || rpm -q wolfenstein-enemy-territory || wolfenstein-enemy-territory --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.60 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison wolfenstein-enemy-territory sudo apt install wolfenstein-enemy-territory=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.60> sudo apt-mark hold wolfenstein-enemy-territory

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list wolfenstein-enemy-territory sudo dnf downgrade wolfenstein-enemy-territory-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.60> sudo dnf versionlock add wolfenstein-enemy-territory

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Exploit-DB: Quake 3 Engine 1.32b - 'R_RemapShader()' Remote Client Buffer Overflow

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2006-2236?

quake 3 arena: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; quake 3 engine: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; return to castle wolfenstein: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2006-2236 being exploited?

CVE-2006-2236 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2006-2236 affect?

CVE-2006-2236 affects quake 3 arena, quake 3 engine, return to castle wolfenstein. Severity is high (CVSS 7.6). Buffer overflow in the Quake 3 Engine, as used by (1) ET 2.60, (2) Return to Castle Wolfenstein 1.41, and (3) Quake III Arena 1.32b allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a long remapShader command.

How urgent is CVE-2006-2236?

Priority 55/100. High severity; EPSS top 5%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference

Related CVEs

CVE-2005-0983 MEDIUM 5.0 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE Quake 3 engine, as used in multiple games, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (client discon
CVE-2001-1289 MEDIUM 5.0 DOWNGRADE Quake 3 arena 1.29f and 1.29g allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a malformed con
CVE-2000-0303 MEDIUM 6.4 DOWNGRADE Quake3 Arena allows malicious server operators to read or modify files on a client via a dot dot (..) attack.

References

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