CVE-2020-15007: A buffer overflow in the M_LoadDefaults function in m_misc.c in id Tech 1 (aka Doom engine) allows arbitrary c

Q: How do I fix CVE-2020-15007?

tech 1: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; doom vanille: upgrade to 671. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2020-15007 being exploited?

CVE-2020-15007 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2020-15007 affect?

CVE-2020-15007 affects tech 1, doom vanille. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). A buffer overflow in the M_LoadDefaults function in m_misc.c in id Tech 1 (aka Doom engine) allows arbitrary code execution via an unsafe usage of fscanf, because it does not limit the number of characters to be read in a format argument.

Q: How urgent is CVE-2020-15007?

Priority 60/100. Critical severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

This week

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEMITIGATEUPGRADE

CVE-2020-15007 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting tech 1, doom vanille. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

A buffer overflow in the M_LoadDefaults function in m_misc.c in id Tech 1 (aka Doom engine) allows arbitrary code execution via an unsafe usage of fscanf, because it does not limit the number of characters to be read in a format argument.

Why this priority

Critical severity
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	2.5% (top 15%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-120
Published	2020-06-24
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: doom vanille project · idsoftware

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-06-24 11:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:55 UTCUpdated Record last modified

idsoftware tech 1 MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy tech-1 || rpm -q tech-1 || tech-1 --version

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

doom vanille project doom vanille UPGRADE

Affected: < 671

Fixed in: 671

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy doom-vanille || rpm -q doom-vanille || doom-vanille --version

2. UPGRADE to 671 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade doom-vanille

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade doom-vanille

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

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-2020-15007?

tech 1: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; doom vanille: upgrade to 671. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2020-15007 being exploited?

CVE-2020-15007 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-2020-15007 affect?

CVE-2020-15007 affects tech 1, doom vanille. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). A buffer overflow in the M_LoadDefaults function in m_misc.c in id Tech 1 (aka Doom engine) allows arbitrary code execution via an unsafe usage of fscanf, because it does not limit the number of characters to be read in a format argument.

How urgent is CVE-2020-15007?

Priority 60/100. Critical severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

References

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