Description
CherryTree through 1.7.2 contains an OS command injection vulnerability in CtActions::link_clicked that allows attackers to execute commands by embedding shell metacharacters in web link URLs. When the non-default Custom Web Link Clicked Action option is enabled, attackers can supply crafted documents whose links pass $(...), backticks, or semicolons unquoted to std::system, running commands as the victim on click.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| giuspen | cherrytree | ≤ 1.7.2 | — |
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 | cherrytree | No fix yet | — |
| Debian 13 | cherrytree | No fix yet | — |
| Debian 12 | cherrytree | No fix yet | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 26.10 | cherrytree | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | cherrytree | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | cherrytree | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | cherrytree | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | cherrytree | No fix yet | — |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | cherrytree | No fix yet | — |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | cherrytree | 1.7.3-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2026:12525-1 |
Advisories 1
- openSUSE-SU-2026:12525-1 cherrytree-1.7.3-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Nov 12, 2026
References
- GitHub Issue #2945 issue-tracking
- https://github.com/giuspen/cherrytree product
- https://github.com/giuspen/cherrytree/blob/v1.7.2/src/ct/ct_actions_others.cc#L381-L388 technical-description
- https://github.com/giuspen/cherrytree/blob/v1.7.2/src/ct/ct_misc_utils.cc#L227-L247 technical-description
- VulnCheck Advisory: CherryTree through 1.7.2 OS Command Injection via Custom Web Link Action third-party-advisory