# CVE-2023-24291: Simon Tatham's Portable Puzzle Collection buffer overflow in record parsing

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-24291-simon-tatham-s-portable-puzzle-collection-buffer-overflow-in  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-14. Updated: 2026-09-26  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2023-24291 · Severity: low · CVSS 2.9 · Published 2026-09-14

Simon Tatham's Portable Puzzle Collection is a suite of logic puzzle games. A buffer overflow vulnerability in the game loading mechanism allows an attacker to cause a crash or potentially execute arbitrary code if a user opens a malformed game description or save file, typically via social engineering.

Technologies: [Simon Tatham Portable Puzzle Collection](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/portable-puzzle-collection). Vendors: [Simon Tatham](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/simon-tatham).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2023-24291 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2023-24291 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2023-24291?** Low severity, with a CVSS score of 2.9, published 14 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Simon Tatham Portable Puzzle Collection before 20230116.5782e29.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2023-24291?** A patch was published on 2023-01-22: Fixed in upstream version and Debian sgt-puzzles 20230122.806ae71-1 Junglewise finds every place you run it, drafts the upgrade and applies it once you approve.

**How is CVE-2023-24291 attacked?** It is attacked with local access.

**Am I affected by CVE-2023-24291?** Check whether you run Simon Tatham Portable Puzzle Collection at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the record length parameter handling during game file loading. The vulnerability is triggered when parsing malformed game descriptions or save files, stemming from insufficient bounds checking on the record length field. An attacker can craft a malicious game description or save file that, when loaded by the application, triggers a buffer overflow. The attack requires user interaction (opening the malicious file) and does not require network access or authentication. The vulnerability has been fixed in upstream versions and Debian package version 20230122.806ae71-1.

## Affected products

- Simon Tatham Portable Puzzle Collection before 20230116.5782e29

## Timeline

- 2023-01-15: disclosed: Reported to Debian as bug #1028986
- 2023-01-22: patched: Fixed in upstream version and Debian sgt-puzzles 20230122.806ae71-1

## References

- [https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=1028986](https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=1028986)
- [https://git.tartarus.org/?p=simon/puzzles.git;a=commit;h=e5717d1ba2184eb6e38b4e2a9d29dc4704aeef30](https://git.tartarus.org/?p=simon/puzzles.git;a=commit;h=e5717d1ba2184eb6e38b4e2a9d29dc4704aeef30)

## Related threats

- [Simon Tatham Portable Puzzle Collection buffer overflow in save state handling](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-24288-simon-tatham-portable-puzzle-collection-buffer-overflow-in-save)
- [Simon Tatham's Portable Puzzle Collection buffer overflow in game loading](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-24287-simon-tatham-s-portable-puzzle-collection-buffer-overflow-in-game)
- [Simon Tatham Portable Puzzle Collection buffer overflow in game loading](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-24285-simon-tatham-portable-puzzle-collection-buffer-overflow-in-game)
- [Simon Tatham's Portable Puzzle Collection buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2023-24283-simon-tatham-s-portable-puzzle-collection-buffer-overflow)