Description
The Eterm terminal emulator 0.9.1 and earlier allows attackers to modify the window title via a certain character escape sequence and then insert it back to the command line in the user's terminal, e.g. when the user views a file containing the malicious sequence, which could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary commands.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | eterm | 0.9.2-6 | — |
| Debian 12 | eterm | 0.9.2-6 | — |
| Debian 3.0 | eterm | 0.9.2-0pre2002042903.3 | DSA-496 |
Advisories 1
- DSA-496 eterm - missing input sanitising Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 10237 vdb-entry
- 20030224 Terminal Emulator Security Issues mailing-list
- MDKSA-2003:040 vendor-advisory
- DSA-496 vendor-advisory
- terminal-emulator-window-title(11414) vdb-entry
- 20030224 Terminal Emulator Security Issues mailing-list