Potential Security Oversight in Dave & Buster’s Reno “Find the Flag” Promotion: Could the Game Be Ethically Compromised?

Recently, I came across some concerning findings related to the ongoing “Find the Flag” promotion at Dave & Buster’s in Reno. As fans participate in the event, some intriguing technical details suggest that the game may be susceptible to manipulation, potentially giving some players an unfair advantage.

Understanding the Issue

The promotional webpage for the game can be found here: Dave & Buster’s Reno Find the Flag. During my participation, I was contacted by a fellow enthusiast who uncovered a security gap: by using simple browser developer tools, it’s possible to access future clues ahead of schedule.

The crux of the vulnerability lies in the URL structure used for serving clues. These URLs follow a straightforward, date-based pattern—such as clue-2025-07-16.jpg. Additionally, the clue files are publicly hosted without any server-side restrictions, meaning anyone with basic technical knowledge can inspect and manipulate the web page source to reveal upcoming clues before they’re officially released.

How the Exploit Works

• Open the web page for the current clue.
• Use browser developer tools to examine the page source, network requests, or JavaScript files.
• Locate the URL pattern associated with clue images, which are predictably named with dates.
• Manually alter the date portion of the URL to a future date.
• Load this modified URL to view the next clue instantly.

This loophole explains how some players managed to find multiple flags within minutes of their release, while others had to solve riddles or analyze clues the traditional way. During my own experience, I found one of the flags through genuine deduction, which took effort, as expected.

Next Steps and Responsible Disclosure

I have reported my findings to Dave & Buster’s Guest Relations, providing detailed screenshots and technical explanations. I’m choosing to withhold specific names or public details out of respect and to give the company a fair opportunity to address this vulnerability.

This situation raises questions about whether this was an oversight or an intentional, yet misguided, advantage provided to some participants. It’s important for organizations hosting such events to ensure their games are secure and fair for all