CVE-2020-37040

Code Blocks 17.12 - 'File Name' Local Buffer Overflow

8.4 High

Code Blocks 17.12 contains a local buffer overflow vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by crafting a malicious file name with Unicode characters. Attackers can trigger the vulnerability by pasting a specially crafted payload into the file name field during project creation, potentially executing system commands like calc.exe.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector: Local
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: None
User interaction: Active

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Exploit likelihood

0.21%Up 0.2 points since Jan 31, 2026

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 8.4

Code Blocks 17.12 - 'File Name' Local Buffer Overflow

Record: CVE-2020-37040
CVSS 4.0: 8.4 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CVSS 3.1: 8.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-120
Updated: 2026-11-02

EUVDEUVD-2020-30938 8.4

Record: EUVD-2020-30938
CVSS 4.0: 8.4 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Updated: 2026-11-02

GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-6rp6-p89c-5fpr 8.4

Code Blocks 17.12 contains a local buffer overflow vulnerability that allows attackers to execute...

Record: GHSA-6rp6-p89c-5fpr
CVSS 4.0: 8.4 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/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
CVSS 3.1: 8.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-120
Updated: 2026-11-02

NVD 8.4

Record: CVE-2020-37040
CVSS 4.0: 8.4 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/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
CVSS 3.1: 8.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-120
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2020-37040 8.4

Record: DEBIAN-CVE-2020-37040
CVSS 3.1: 8.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2020-37040 8.4

Record: UBUNTU-CVE-2020-37040
CVSS 4.0: 8.4 HighCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CVSS 3.1: 8.4 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

Affected products

code::blocks

Affected packages

Affected packages
Package	Affected	Fixed
`codeblocks` Ubuntu:16.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 13.12-3.1build113.12+dfsg-4	None known
`codeblocks` Ubuntu:18.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 16.01+dfsg-2.1	None known
`codeblocks` Ubuntu:20.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 16.01+dfsg-2.117.12+dfsg-117.12+dfsg-1build120.03-3	None known
`codeblocks` Ubuntu:22.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 20.03-320.03-3.1	None known
`codeblocks` Ubuntu:24.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 20.03+svn13046-0.1build120.03+svn13046-0.220.03+svn13046-0.3build120.03+svn13046-0.3build2	None known
`codeblocks` Ubuntu:25.10	All versions, plus listed versions 20.03+svn13046-0.425.03+dfsg-2	None known
`codeblocks` Ubuntu:26.10	All versions, plus listed versions 25.03+dfsg-2.125.03+dfsg-3	None known
`codeblocks` Ubuntu:26.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 25.03+dfsg-225.03+dfsg-2.1	None known

History

History
Recorded	Changed	Sources
Nov 3, 2026	affected
Nov 2, 2026	first indexed	CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2020-37040 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 8.4) in Code::blocks, published January 30, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.21%, the 11th percentile. No source names a fixed version.