# CVE-2008-1142: Security feature bypass in n/a

> Local attackers can hijack X11 connections if the DISPLAY variable is unset, requiring user interaction to enter commands on the wrong machine.

- **Severity:** Low 3.7 (`AV:L/AC:H/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 7 Apr 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-2cjq-7pqj-grxv

## What is CVE-2008-1142?

CVE-2008-1142 is a low-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 7 Apr 2008. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

rxvt 2.6.4 opens a terminal window on :0 if the DISPLAY environment variable is not set, which might allow local users to hijack X11 connections.  NOTE: it was later reported that rxvt-unicode, mrxvt, aterm, multi-aterm, and wterm are also affected.  NOTE: realistic attack scenarios require that the victim enters a command on the wrong machine.

Weakness: CWE-264

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-1142?

It affects 7 products.


Products: Aterm Aterm, Eterm Eterm, Mrxvt Mrxvt, Multi-Aterm Multi-Aterm, Rxvt-Unicode Rxvt-Unicode, Rxvt Rxvt, Wterm Wterm.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-1142?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2008-1142 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-1142 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2003-0024](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-0024/): Command injection in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2003-0067](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-0067/): Command injection in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-1142 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-1142 is a low-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 7 Apr 2008. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-1142 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-1142/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-1142/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-1142
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-1142
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-1142

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-1142/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.