CVE-2008-2383 Command injection in n/a

Critical 9.3 Published 2 Jan 2009 Updated 7 Aug 2024

Attackers can execute arbitrary commands via crafted escape sequences in text files viewed in xterm, requiring user interaction.

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

What is CVE-2008-2383?

CVE-2008-2383 is a critical command injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 2 Jan 2009. 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

CRLF injection vulnerability in xterm allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary commands via LF (aka \n) characters surrounding a command name within a Device Control Request Status String (DECRQSS) escape sequence in a text file, a related issue to CVE-2003-0063 and CVE-2003-0071.

Weakness: CWE-94

Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-2383?

It affects 1 product.

Linux distribution packages (24)

`hanterm-xf` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:2.1::as	All versions	`1:2.0.5-5.AS21.2`
`hanterm-xf` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:2.1::aw	All versions	`1:2.0.5-5.AS21.2`
`hanterm-xf` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:2.1::es	All versions	`1:2.0.5-5.AS21.2`
`hanterm-xf` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:2.1::ws	All versions	`1:2.0.5-5.AS21.2`
`xterm` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as	All versions	`0:179-11.EL3`
`xterm-debuginfo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as	All versions	`0:179-11.EL3`
`xterm` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::desktop	All versions	`0:179-11.EL3`
`xterm-debuginfo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::desktop	All versions	`0:179-11.EL3`
`xterm` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::es	All versions	`0:179-11.EL3`
`xterm-debuginfo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::es	All versions	`0:179-11.EL3`
`xterm` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::ws	All versions	`0:179-11.EL3`
`xterm-debuginfo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::ws	All versions	`0:179-11.EL3`
`xterm` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as	All versions	`0:192-8.el4_7.2`
`xterm-debuginfo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as	All versions	`0:192-8.el4_7.2`
`xterm` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::desktop	All versions	`0:192-8.el4_7.2`
`xterm-debuginfo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::desktop	All versions	`0:192-8.el4_7.2`
`xterm` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::es	All versions	`0:192-8.el4_7.2`
`xterm-debuginfo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::es	All versions	`0:192-8.el4_7.2`
`xterm` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::ws	All versions	`0:192-8.el4_7.2`
`xterm-debuginfo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::ws	All versions	`0:192-8.el4_7.2`
`xterm` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client	All versions	`0:215-5.el5_2.2`
`xterm-debuginfo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client	All versions	`0:215-5.el5_2.2`
`xterm` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server	All versions	`0:215-5.el5_2.2`
`xterm-debuginfo` Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server	All versions	`0:215-5.el5_2.2`

Products include Invisible-Island Xterm.

How do I fix CVE-2008-2383?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Upgrade, and pass arguments to programs as a list instead of through a shell. More about Command injection.

Is CVE-2008-2383 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-2383 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Sources

Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2008-2383, DSA-1694-1, GHSA-94vw-2f3v-j88m, RHSA-2009:0018, RHSA-2009:0019, openSUSE-SU-2024:13043-1.