Potential Security Vulnerability in Dave & Buster’s “Find the Flag” Campaign in Reno
Recently, I came across a concerning issue related to the ongoing “Find the Flag” promotion at Dave & Buster’s in Reno. The promotion encourages participants to locate digital “flags” across their website, but it appears there may be a flaw that allows some individuals to access future clues prematurely.
Find Out More About the Promotion Here:
https://www.daveandbusters.com/us/en/find-the-flag/reno/?location=Reno+US+%2C+89502
During my participation, a fellow participant informed me of a method to uncover upcoming clues ahead of schedule. By leveraging simple browser developer tools, it’s possible to manipulate the webpage’s URL parameters—specifically, the date components embedded in the clues’ file names.
The clues’ URLs follow a predictable pattern based on dates, and these files are publicly accessible without any server-side security measures. This setup makes it feasible for anyone with minimal technical knowledge to:
- Open the browser’s developer console on the clue webpage,
- Examine the source code or resources,
- Edit the URL to specify future dates (e.g., changing
clue-2025-07-16.jpgtoclue-2025-07-17.jpg), - Instantly access upcoming clues.
This vulnerability largely explains how some participants were able to discover multiple clues in mere minutes after they were officially released. Interestingly, I found a flag through careful deduction rather than exploiting the URL pattern, highlighting a stark contrast in ease.
I’ve reported these findings directly to Dave & Buster’s Guest Relations and shared detailed screenshots and technical insights via their contact channels. I am intentionally holding back on naming individuals or exposing details publicly, aiming to give the company the opportunity to address and rectify the issue.
What’s your opinion? Could this have been an honest oversight, or is there a possibility that insiders exploited this flaw to benefit certain players? I’m not a web developer, so I welcome thoughts and advice from those with more technical expertise.
Stay vigilant and informed—security matters in even the most entertaining promotions.
