Cyberpunk 2077 Exploit Allows Malicious Actors to Gain Control of Gamers PCs

CD Projekt Red (CDPR), the developers of Cyberpunk 2077, is warning PC gamers against downloading mods and custom saves due to a vulnerability that may let threat actors deploy arbitrary code on their computers. 

PC gamers should avoid mods until the Polish video game developer releases a fix for the exploit.

“If you plan to use @CyberpunkGame mods/custom saves on PC, use caution,” CD Projekt Red said in a tweet. “We’ve been made aware of a vulnerability in external DLL files the game uses, which can be used to execute code on PCs. Issue will be fixed ASAP. For now, please refrain from using files from unknown sources.”

The safe file exploit was discovered by cyberpunk community member PixelRick, who said the vulnerability is linked to the external dynamic link library files (DLL) used by CyberPunk 2077.

This library contains code and data that multiple programs can use at the same time. The flaw makes non-executable files executable, allowing hackers to hide and execute malicious code within certain game mods. 

“You should be able to trust data file mods to be harmless, and only be skeptical about executables in general,” PixelRick said in an interview with Eurogamer. “This vulnerability makes it impossible to really trust any modded data file for this game until [the] patch.” Although the latest version of Cyber Engine Tweaks is said to include a fix for the vulnerability, it’s best to refrain from attempting to play any modded Cyberpunk 2077 games until further notice from the game developers.