Description
The default configuration of xterm on Debian GNU/Linux sid and possibly Ubuntu enables the allowWindowOps resource, which allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code or have unspecified other impact via escape sequences.
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 | xterm | 238-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | xterm | 238-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | xterm | 238-1 | — |
| Debian 5.0 | xterm | 235-2 | DTSA-182-1 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- xterm - DECRQSS Remote Command Execution EDB-32690 · remote · Dec 29, 2008 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- DTSA-182-1 xterm - remote code execution Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 33388 third-party-advisory
- USN-703-1 vendor-advisory
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=510030
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=384593