Description
The IRC Protocol component in KVIrc 3.x and 4.x before r4693 does not properly handle \ (backslash) characters, which allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary CTCP commands via vectors involving \r and \40 sequences, a different vulnerability than CVE-2010-2451 and CVE-2010-2452.
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 | kvirc | 4:4.0.0-3 | — |
| Debian 13 | kvirc | 4:4.0.0-3 | — |
| Debian 12 | kvirc | 4:4.0.0-3 | — |
| Debian 5.0 | kvirc | 2:3.4.0-6 | DSA-2078-1 |
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.
Exploit-DB 1
- KVIrc 4.0 - '\r' Carriage Return in DCC Handshake Remote Command Execution EDB-34385 · remote · Jul 28, 2010 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- DSA-2078-1 kvirc - arbitrary IRC command execution Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- http://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=330111
- FEDORA-2010-11524 vendor-advisory
- 40796 third-party-advisory
- 66648 vdb-entry
- https://svn.kvirc.de/kvirc/changeset/4693
- [oss-security] 20100729 Re: CVE Request -- KVIrc -- Remote CTCP commands execution via specially-crafted CTCP parameter mailing-list
- SUSE-SR:2010:014 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20100728 CVE Request -- KVIrc -- Remote CTCP commands execution via specially-crafted CTCP parameter mailing-list
- 40727 third-party-advisory
- https://svn.kvirc.de/kvirc/ticket/858
- FEDORA-2010-11506 vendor-advisory