Description
rxvt-unicode before 9.20 does not properly handle OSC escape sequences, which allows user-assisted remote attackers to manipulate arbitrary X window properties and 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 | rxvt-unicode | 9.20-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | rxvt-unicode | 9.20-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | rxvt-unicode | 9.20-1 | — |
| Debian 7 | rxvt-unicode | 9.15-2+deb7u1 | DSA-2925-1 |
| Debian 6.0 | rxvt-unicode | 9.07-2+deb6u1 | DSA-2925-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | rxvt-unicode | 9.22-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10526-1 |
Advisories 2
- DSA-2925-1 rxvt-unicode - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10526-1 rxvt-unicode-9.22-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- FEDORA-2014-5938 vendor-advisory
- http://dist.schmorp.de/rxvt-unicode/Changes
- DSA-2925 vendor-advisory
- 67155 vdb-entry
- SUSE-SU-2014:0838 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20140430 CVE request: rxvt-unicode user-assisted arbitrary commands execution mailing-list
- openSUSE-SU-2014:0814 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2014-5939 vendor-advisory