CVE-2023-35856 in Mario Kart Wii
Summary
by MITRE • 06/19/2023
A buffer overflow in Nintendo Mario Kart Wii RMCP01, RMCE01, RMCJ01, and RMCK01 can be exploited by a game client to execute arbitrary code on a client's machine via a crafted packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the Nintendo Mario Kart Wii game client software, specifically affecting versions RMCP01, RMCE01, RMCJ01, and RMCK01. The flaw exists in the remote management communication protocol implementation that handles network packets exchanged between game clients and servers. When a maliciously crafted network packet is received by an affected client system, the software fails to properly validate the packet size and content before copying data into fixed-size memory buffers. This fundamental memory safety issue allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the network level, enabling remote exploitation without requiring physical access to the target system. According to the CWE database, this corresponds to CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory. The attack surface extends beyond simple code execution to include potential privilege escalation and system compromise scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly beyond typical gaming security concerns due to the widespread adoption of Nintendo Wii systems and their associated network infrastructure. Game clients running affected versions are susceptible to remote code execution attacks that could result in complete system compromise, data theft, or further propagation within networked environments. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to install malware, steal user credentials, or use compromised systems as launch points for broader network attacks. The exploitation requires only the ability to send specially crafted packets to an affected system, making it particularly dangerous in multiplayer gaming environments where legitimate game traffic flows through the same network channels. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, as successful exploitation would allow attackers to execute arbitrary commands on compromised systems. The attack chain typically involves packet crafting, network transmission, and memory corruption exploitation to achieve code execution, representing a classic remote code execution vector that has been documented in numerous gaming and network protocol implementations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass multiple layers of defense to protect against exploitation attempts. Immediate remediation involves updating to patched versions of the Mario Kart Wii software that implement proper input validation and memory bounds checking mechanisms. Network administrators should consider implementing firewall rules that restrict communication with known malicious IP addresses and monitor for unusual packet patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of network segmentation can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation by isolating gaming systems from critical network infrastructure. Additionally, endpoint protection solutions should be configured to detect and block suspicious network traffic patterns associated with buffer overflow exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected systems and ensure that all networked gaming equipment receives timely security updates. According to industry best practices for network security, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and memory safety practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other networked applications and gaming systems. The vulnerability also highlights the need for robust software supply chain security practices to prevent the introduction of memory safety issues in networked applications.