Description
Directory traversal vulnerability in the client in HexChat 2.11.0 allows remote IRC servers to read or modify arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the server name.
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 13 | hexchat | 2.12.4-4 | — |
| Debian 12 | hexchat | 2.12.4-4 | — |
| Debian 7 | xchat | 2.8.8-7.1+deb7u1 | DLA-1050-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | hexchat +1 | No fix yet | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP5 | hexchat | 2.12.0-6.5.146 | SUSE-SU-2020:2872-1 |
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
- Hexchat IRC Client 2.11.0 - Directory Traversal EDB-39656 · local · Apr 4, 2016
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 2
- DLA-1050-1 xchat - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2020:2872-1 Security update for hexchat SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026