Description
rxvt-unicode 9.22, rxvt 2.7.10, mrxvt 0.5.4, and Eterm 0.9.7 allow (potentially remote) code execution because of improper handling of certain escape sequences (ESC G Q). A response is terminated by a newline.
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 | 0.9.6-6.1 | — |
| Debian 14 | rxvt-unicode | 9.22-11 | — |
| Debian 13 | rxvt-unicode | 9.22-11 | — |
| Debian 12 | eterm | 0.9.6-6.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | rxvt-unicode | 9.22-11 | — |
| Debian 9 | eterm | 0.9.6-5+deb9u1 | DLA-2681-1 |
| Debian 9 | mrxvt | 0.5.4-2+deb9u1 | DLA-2682-1 |
| Debian 9 | rxvt | 1:2.7.10-7+deb9u2 | DLA-2683-1 |
| Debian 9 | rxvt-unicode | 9.22-1+deb9u1 | DLA-2671-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | eterm | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | eterm | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | rxvt +2 | No fix yet | — |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | rxvt-unicode | 9.22-6ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-8991-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | rxvt-unicode | 9.22-3ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-8991-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | rxvt-unicode | 9.21-1ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-8991-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSE Package Hub 15 SP4 | rxvt-unicode | 9.26-bp154.2.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2022:10222-1 |
| SUSE Package Hub 15 SP3 | rxvt-unicode | 9.26-bp154.2.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2022:10222-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | rxvt-unicode | 9.30-2.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:12386-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | rxvt-unicode | 9.26-bp154.2.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2022:10222-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.3 | rxvt-unicode | 9.26-bp154.2.3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2022:10222-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | mrxvt | 0.5.4-r9 | — |
| Alpine v3.24 | rxvt-unicode | 9.26-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | mrxvt | 0.5.4-r9 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | rxvt-unicode | 9.26-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | mrxvt | 0.5.4-r9 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | rxvt-unicode | 9.26-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | mrxvt | 0.5.4-r9 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | rxvt-unicode | 9.26-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | mrxvt | 0.5.4-r9 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | rxvt-unicode | 9.26-r0 | — |
Show 9 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | mrxvt | 0.5.4-r9 | — |
| Alpine v3.19 | rxvt-unicode | 9.26-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | mrxvt | 0.5.4-r9 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | rxvt-unicode | 9.26-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | mrxvt | 0.5.4-r9 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | rxvt-unicode | 9.26-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | mrxvt | 0.5.4-r9 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | rxvt-unicode | 9.26-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | mrxvt | 0.5.4-r9 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | rxvt-unicode | 9.26-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | mrxvt | 0.5.4-r9 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | rxvt-unicode | 9.26-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | mrxvt | 0.5.4-r9 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | rxvt-unicode | 9.22-r10 | — |
| Alpine v3.11 | mrxvt | 0.5.4-r8 | — |
| Alpine v3.11 | rxvt-unicode | 9.22-r8 | — |
| Alpine v3.10 | mrxvt | 0.5.4-r8 | — |
| Alpine v3.10 | rxvt-unicode | 9.22-r7 | — |
Advisories 7
- USN-8991-1 rxvt-unicode vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- DLA-2683-1 rxvt - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-2682-1 mrxvt - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-2671-1 rxvt-unicode - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-2681-1 eterm - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:12386-1 rxvt-unicode-9.30-2.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2022:10222-1 Security update for rxvt-unicode SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/05/17/1
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2017/05/01/20
- http://cvs.schmorp.de/rxvt-unicode/src/command.C?r1=1.582&r2=1.583
- https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162621/rxvt-2.7.0-rxvt-unicode-9.22-Code-Execution.html
- https://sourceforge.net/projects/rxvt/files/rxvt-dev/
- http://cvs.schmorp.de/rxvt-unicode/Changes?view=log
- https://sourceforge.net/projects/materm/files/mrxvt%20source/
- https://git.enlightenment.org/apps/eterm.git/log/
- GLSA-202105-17 vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20210530 [SECURITY] [DLA 2671-1] rxvt-unicode security update mailing-list
- FEDORA-2021-a4c0a91884 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2021-5b96f0f5db vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2021-c883ca2a37 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2021-8b85b2de05 vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20210609 [SECURITY] [DLA 2681-1] eterm security update mailing-list
- [debian-lts-announce] 20210609 [SECURITY] [DLA 2683-1] rxvt security update mailing-list
- [debian-lts-announce] 20210609 [SECURITY] [DLA 2682-1] mrxvt security update mailing-list
- FEDORA-2021-71556a5722 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2021-0d3268fc35 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-202209-07 vendor-advisory