Potential Security Flaw in Dave & Buster’s Reno “Find the Flag” Promotion Raises Fair Play Concerns
In recent days, a concerning discovery has emerged regarding the ongoing “Find the Flag” challenge hosted by Dave & Buster’s in Reno. This promotional event, designed to engage customers through a series of clues, may inadvertently be exposing participants to unfair advantages.
For those unfamiliar, the event invites players to uncover hidden digital clues across their website, progressing through a sequence to ultimately find a virtual “flag.” However, a technical inspection suggests that the implementation might be vulnerable to exploitation.
It turns out that the webpage hosting the clues relies on a predictable URL pattern linked with date-based filenames. These clue files are accessed through publicly available links, with no server-side restrictions or authentication measures protecting them. By using basic developer tools accessible in any modern browser, a user can:
- Inspect the webpage’s source code and network activity
- Identify the pattern used for clue URLs, typically incorporating specific dates
- Manually modify the date parameter in the URL to preview future clues
- Instantly access upcoming hints well before their official release
This loophole likely explains how some participants managed to uncover multiple clues in a matter of minutes, vastly outpacing those solving the puzzles honestly. Such quick discoveries can undermine the integrity of the event and diminish the experience for genuine participants.
In response, I’ve contacted Dave & Buster’s Guest Relations team to alert them to this potential vulnerability, providing detailed technical insights along with supporting screenshots. I aim to give the company an opportunity to address the issue before it escalates or damages trust.
It remains unclear whether this was an accidental oversight or a deliberate design choice, but it raises important questions about the security of digital scavenger hunts and similar promotional activities. Maintaining fairness requires robust safeguards, especially when public-facing websites are involved.
While I don’t wish to speculate further or name individuals—especially given the safety and privacy considerations—I hope this serves as a reminder for organizations to review and reinforce their online promotional tools to ensure an equitable experience for all participants.
Stay vigilant, and happy hunting!
